Regular aerobic exercise can help burn calories and reduce body fat. Running and bicycling are both forms of aerobic exercise. The amount of calories you burn during these activities depends on a variety of factors, such as your weight, the intensity of your workout and the amount of time spent performing the activity. Monitoring your heart rate can help you determine the aerobic intensity of your workout.
Weight Loss
Physical activity helps promote weight loss. One pound of fat equals approximately 3,500 calories. Although dieting can help you burn calories and meet your weight loss goals, engaging in regular physical activity is the only way to maintain weight loss, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Exercising at a moderate intensity for 150 minutes per week can help most people maintain their current weight. Although the specific requirements for losing weight can vary from person to person, reducing body fat often requires strict dietary adjustments and a high amount of physical activity.
Running
A person who weighs 160 pounds burns about 986 calories by running for an hour at 8 mph. At this same rate, a person who weighs 240 pounds can expect to burn about 1,472 calories an hour. Running slower or for less time burns fewer calories. A 154-pound person can expect to burn about 295 calories after running for 30 minutes at 5 mph.
Bicycling
Bicycling tends to burn fewer calories than running, although the terrain and intensity play an important role in determining how many calories you burn. A 160-pound person burns about 292 calories during an hour of cycling at a leisurely speed of around 10 mph. A 240-pound person burns about 436 calories at this rate and speed. A person who weighs 154 pounds can burn approximately 295 calories during a 10 mph ride that lasts about 30 minutes.
Precautions
Consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine that includes moderate to strenuous exercise, especially if you suffer from a medical condition. Take your pulse rate to help determine the amount of effort you expend during your workout. Drink fluids to stay hydrated before, during and after your workout. Stop exercising and seek medical care if you experience unusual fatigue, irregular heartbeat, chest pain or light-headedness.
Member Comments