Hello All, I've been working out pretty consistently and shedding pounds doing a mix of TurboJam, Crunch dance aerobics, and two weight training DVD's in addition to whole foods eating. I'm heading back to the pool today for additional cardio and relaxation.

But I know it's time for me to kick up my workout, so I want to know if there is a difference in aerobics like a TurboJam as opposed to run/walking and swimming in terms of calorie and fat burning? Do you burn more if you're walk/running and swimming? I know I personally feel more fatigued after run/walking and exert more energy while swimming, but TJ pushes me pretty hard, just in a different way. I sweat a lot with TJ. Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks

I saydo whatever works for you and what you will keep doing and not quit. If the weight is still coming off, I wouldn't worry about changing it up.

According to Fitday a 150 lbs person :

- Swimming laps, freestyle, fast, vigorous effort - burns 513 calories/hour
- Running, 5 mph (12 min per mile) - burns 399 calories/hour
- Walking, 3.5 mph, level, brisk, firm surface, very brisk pace - burns 171/hour calories
- Aerobic, general - burns 285 calories/hour

Now, I personally feel that all are good, all serve a purpose and you should do a variety of workouts to keep your body guessing and losing weight more efficiently, and to prevent overuse and injury...

I am also a firm believer that everyone should weight train to maintain bone density as we get older...

OK Ilene, I'm immediately suspicious of Fitday! Running is just over 100 calories a mile for a 150 lb person, and a 12 min/mile pace is 5 miles per hour. This is over 500 calories for a hour of running (Runner's World says 568 to be exact). Running is one of the best studied exercises for calorie burn in the world and calorie burn rates/per pound are remarkably consistent from person to person.

Anyway, lola, the best exercise is exercise that you will do. If you like TJ, do that. If you like to run, do that. Personally, I like to mix it up so I don't get sick of any one thing too fast.

Anne

I only used fitday as a point of reference. I don't believe ANY of the calorie burn calculators out there, whether it be fitday, runner's world or the treadmill at the gym... I only used fitday as a point of reference....

Same here, me and my body get bored doing the same thing over and over again...

I do a variety of cardio exercise, including running intervals on the treadmill, the elliptical, the stair machine, and high-intensity cardio combined with strength training. I also run 5-6 miles once a week and I try to swim for an hour once a week. My swim workout includes about 15 minutes of intervals.

When I manage to get my swim in, I notice a marked improvement in my cardio endurance the next time I'm on the treadmill. It is amazing, but after I swim, I can always run faster, longer, on the treadmill. I can't really say how it compares to the other forms of exercise in terms of calories burned (I don't miraculously drop 5 lbs on the days I swim or anything) but swimming clearly increases my cardio endurance faster than anything else. Unfortunately, it can be hard to work into my day due to the pool being open only during limited hours and it also ruins my hair if I do it too much, so I only do it once a week.

I agree with Ilene and wndranne that it's best if you can mix things up. It's better for your body to do a variety of exercise and it's more interesting for you. I get burned out really fast if I do the same thing every day.