How many calories you burn during any given activity depends on a number of factors. But keep in mind that the best weight-loss or fitness activity is the one you love doing consistently, even if it doesn't burn the most calories per minute.
Weight Matters
The heavier you are, the more calories you burn. According to estimates published on MayoClinic.com, if you weigh 160 lbs., you can burn 511 calories in an hour of cross-country skiing. But if you weigh 240 lbs., you can burn 763 calories with the same activity, in the same period of time.
Speed Makes a Difference
Running is an effective calorie burner, but just how many calories you lose depends on your speed. According to Harvard Health Publications, if you weigh 185 lbs., you can burn 800 calories in an hour of running at 5.2 mph. But if you crank the speed up to 6.7 mph, you can burn 972 calories per hour.
Considerations
The numbers listed above are estimates. Your actual calorie burn also depends on how much muscle you're carrying; a muscular 185-lb. person will burn more calories than a person of the same weight who's carrying a high percentage of body fat. You can also increase workout intensity in other ways: For example, jogging or skiing uphill burns more calories than jogging or skiing at the same speed on flat ground.
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