Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - How 2 accurately calculate physical activity?

C33 · 04-04-2007, 01:02 AM

I have started logging in my fitness progress, but am at a loss to fairly report my physical activity. I need to calculate how many calories I burn, and am not sure if I am doing it right. I use a free fitness assistant online.

How do you calculate cardio activity/ calorie burning?
I have a DVD that runs for 45 minutes, out of those 45 minutes, 8 minutes are introduction and a brief warm up ( 5 mins) that is pretty stationary, then the real moving/ walking/ jumping/ movement part starts at 8 minutes, and ends at 40 minutes.The end of the DVD is a brief cool down. Does it mean that my actual cardio workout is 32 minutes? (45 minutes total DVD duration minus 8 minutes warm up and 5 minutes cool down).

Also, today I walked for 40 minutes, I went to the bookstore from my home, so it was nothing strenuous, I stayed in the bookstore for 1 hour, enjoying my favorite activity: moving my eyes from left to right following words on a page! ( It s 20 minutes to the bookstore, one way). I didn t make any stops, only at red lights. I didn t walk fast nor leisurely,(no window browsing). Does it count in physical activity or is it just part of moving your body, proving you are not dead? This is my regular everyday activity: 30 minutes to 40 minutes of normal, urban walking.

I' d appreciate any insight. Thank you.

04-04-2007, 01:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
C33 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 623	How 2 accurately calculate physical activity? I have started logging in my fitness progress, but am at a loss to fairly report my physical activity. I need to calculate how many calories I burn, and am not sure if I am doing it right. I use a free fitness assistant online. How do you calculate cardio activity/ calorie burning? I have a DVD that runs for 45 minutes, out of those 45 minutes, 8 minutes are introduction and a brief warm up ( 5 mins) that is pretty stationary, then the real moving/ walking/ jumping/ movement part starts at 8 minutes, and ends at 40 minutes.The end of the DVD is a brief cool down. Does it mean that my actual cardio workout is 32 minutes? (45 minutes total DVD duration minus 8 minutes warm up and 5 minutes cool down). Also, today I walked for 40 minutes, I went to the bookstore from my home, so it was nothing strenuous, I stayed in the bookstore for 1 hour, enjoying my favorite activity: moving my eyes from left to right following words on a page! ( It s 20 minutes to the bookstore, one way). I didn t make any stops, only at red lights. I didn t walk fast nor leisurely,(no window browsing). Does it count in physical activity or is it just part of moving your body, proving you are not dead? This is my regular everyday activity: 30 minutes to 40 minutes of normal, urban walking. I' d appreciate any insight. Thank you.