Burning Calories through Exercise Harder Than You Think

Many people hope to burn enough calories through exercise so that they don't have to change their eating habits. However, burning calories through exercise is harder than you think.

THE Spinning class at our local gym was winding down. People were wiping off their bikes, gathering their towels and water bottles, and walking out the door when a woman shouted to the instructor, “How many calories did we burn?”

“About 900,” the instructor replied.

My husband and I rolled our eyes. We looked around the room. Most people had hardly broken a sweat. I did a quick calculation in my head.

We were cycling for 45 minutes. Suppose someone was running and that the rule of thumb, 100 calories a mile, was correct.

To burn 900 calories, we would have had to work as hard as someone who ran a five-minute mile for the entire distance of nine miles. Read more

The only people who could burn significant calories through exercise are people who are already lean and fit. Otherwise, to lose weight, you're going to have to modify your diet.