The Top 10 calorie-burning activities
Posted: Sep 19th 2007 11:08AM by Martha Edwards
Filed under: Fitness
The Mayo Clinic has
posted a list of the activities that burn the most calories in an hour. What do you think tops the list? Running is the number one calorie burner, which should not come as a surprise to anyone who runs on a regular basis. What are some other great workouts?
- Aerobic Dancing: 416-533 cals
- Backpacking: 448-574 cals
- Biking: 512-574 cals
- Jogging: 512-656 cals
- Racquetball: 448-574 cals
- Rope Jumping: 640-820 cals
- Running: 864-1107cals
- Skiing, Cross-country: 512-656 cals
- Swimming: 384-492 cals
- Tennis: 448-574 cals
Most of these aren't surprising, but I didn't know aerobic dance was such an effective exercise. What about you?
Tags: biking, burning, calories, dancing, exercise, jogging, raquetball, rope jumping, RopeJumping, running, skiing, swimming, tennis
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-19-2007 @ 12:25PM
Adam said...
They need to put soccer up there...it's only the best sport in the world... :-)
Reply
9-19-2007 @ 6:46PM
Crabby McSlacker said...
I don't suppose walking to the refrigerator every ten minutes to see if anything new magically appeared there was on the list?
Ah well, running it is then, (Actually, with my crappy knees, it's race-walking, which I think burns extra calories just from the sheer embarrassment factor of swinging those hips and pumping those arms).
(My silly health blog is at: http://crankyfitness.blogspot.com/)
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9-19-2007 @ 6:47PM
Anymous said...
I am currently running XC in high school and though I love i it is one of the hardest things I have ever dine. But I encourage EVERYONE to run it is one of the best feelings in the world.
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9-19-2007 @ 6:47PM
Judy said...
I don't know about all those activities, but I bet I burned more calories cleaning my daughters carpets all day Monday helping her get ready for her new baby who is due any minute now. And I accomplished something useful.
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9-19-2007 @ 6:58PM
Andy said...
soccer, what about football? Play one game, and lose about 20 pounds.
Anyways... What about sex? An hour in the sack is the best workout I can think of... Not to mention the most fun
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9-19-2007 @ 7:50PM
duane said...
Sex is a great way to maintain weight loss and stay in shape. 1 to 3 lbs. for every orgasim. if I don't slow down I'll soon be dead.
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9-19-2007 @ 7:59PM
speedcoach said...
This is a misleading report (IMHO). Running is the competitive form of jogging, yet the Mayo Clinic chose not to include the competitive forms of other sports like cycling, inline skating, and mountain climbing (the competitive or more intensive form of backpacking). The goal should be to get people moving in a fitness direction, not to get them moving in a direction. It would be interesting to see who funded this study ....
Why not look into getting MORE sports into our school system like cycling and skating teams which can lead to school age children competing in these sports and losing weight instead of sitting in front of the TV playing video games. IMHO, these studies should compare apples to apples; recreation sports and activities to recreation sports and activities, not recreation to competitive. This would give a more accurate picture and perhaps get more people interested and willing to try other sports. Cycling and skating just happen to be easier on the joints as well, while supplying great aerobic activity.
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9-21-2007 @ 12:01AM
marcie said...
If Duane is right, then I must weigh in the negative column right now.
Sign me
Bowlegged Peg
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9-24-2007 @ 5:25PM
haley said...
well basketball and soccer should be up there its none stop runnig and multitasking
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9-24-2007 @ 6:17PM
Hope said...
Ok, so sports burn calories....what about horse related sports such as equestrian, hunting, racing, cutting, cross-country, endurance for gods sake ! I believe that these sports, especially endurance will really keep you in shape, for, it is a challenge you and the horse endure through to reach a specific goal. Well not even that, try just doing some basic barn chores I guarantee you that you will certainly loose at least 3 lbs. and stay in shape if you continue !!!
In any case, jump on a horse and unlock a whole new world to yourself, try it, I'd never want to get off.
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9-24-2007 @ 6:23PM
alex said...
It really doesn't come as a surprise that running is up there. IT IS HARD WORK. I'm pouring buckets if I have to run for half an hour. The trick is to wear layers and run as constant as you can. And soccer does require alot of skill and is also the most popular.
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9-24-2007 @ 6:34PM
kb said...
ummm all the above are true, but seriously, try gymnastics. like, competitive, higher level gymnastics. you literally use just about every single muscle in your body. i guess its more anaerobic though, because its a lot of doing skills and resting between turns, but it still burns a hell of a lot of calories and show me someone who is in better shape then a level 9, competitive gymnast. =]
oh and i agree about the horse related stuff. its so much work just to take care of your horse, let alone all the muscle and control riding takes.
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9-24-2007 @ 7:51PM
Orchidork1124 said...
I love all you people who say you that Football and soccer should be on there. But nobody has said Marching Band yet. It's been calculated Marchers use more energy in fifteen minutes than a football player can in one game. Football is stop and go, marching is not. Soccer has less stopping and going but marching has none. When a marcher isn't moving the heart rate is still flying, for a marching performance the heart rate goes up and stays up. Unlike in football or soccer
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9-24-2007 @ 10:22PM
Bryan said...
soccer is the best sport to burn calories. It also has many more benefits. Check out the article:http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/LIVING01/709040319/1007/LIVING
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9-24-2007 @ 10:25PM
Brymaba said...
soccer definitely burns more than jogging. It is probably the best sport to burn calories and it is easier to do it than running
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070904/LIVING01/709040319/1007/LIVING
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9-24-2007 @ 11:39PM
Jennie said...
Swimming is definitely up there for burning calories. You can do just 20 laps or swim for a half hour and already you've burned off most of your dinner.
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9-25-2007 @ 2:38AM
jess said...
synchronized swimming. i dont care what anyone says. it is hard. now im not gona say its the hardest..i mean i cant mess with gymnastics..but ive played soccor and baseball..and synchro is so much more of an intense workout. i mean if you do it right--thats the key. if youre just putting on a flowered cap and standing on the bottom of ur pool waving your arms around it wont do much for you..just imagine doing a really hard workout and then take away the breathing part..
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9-25-2007 @ 4:18AM
GymRat said...
I don't think this study takes interval training into account. While running burns calories during the actual exercise duration; sports such as soccer, football, basketball etc... is in essence interval training, which continues to burn calories long after the event has ended.
For the person who says being in a marching band burns more calories than soccer and football; maybe it's true for the period of time you'd specified, but with total calories burnt taken into account as a result of the activity, team sports will burn more calories.
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9-25-2007 @ 6:30AM
Kaleigh said...
I play soccer. 2 practices and 1 game a week. does that count as calorie burning?
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9-26-2007 @ 7:09AM
Hannah said...
They should seriously add ballet to that. My friend takes ballet and she's the skinnest thing in the world, but she eats a lot. So yeah
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