# What Activities Burn How Many Calories? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396 "2003-06-30T18:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396/1 "2003-06-30T18:34:05Z")
Is there a website that will help you calculate how many calories would be burned for: 50 sit-ups 50 push-ups 1/2 run etc… I’m thinking about exercising (I know it’s an evil thought, but it’s already in my mind, so there’s nothing I can do about it). I’d like to do the most productive in the least amount of time (don’t we all?). Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396/2 "2003-06-30T19:39:00Z")
There are several websites, but I’d take the data given with a grain of salt. What sort of exercise are you looking to do? What _can_ you do? What are your goals? Lots of Dopers know their stuff in regards to exercise ( **Scylla** , for one). I’m keen on running, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396/3 "2003-06-30T20:20:12Z")
Some calc are good guides, and weight watchers and some other reputable places have them. We’ve found them as decent guides. google on “exercise calorie calculators” should find a number of them. [www.personalhealthzone.com](http://www.personalhealthzone.com) has a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Yuki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@Yuki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yuki)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396/4 "2003-06-30T21:47:47Z")
You know my favorite way of exercising AND seeing how many calories I’ve burned? DDR or for those of you out of the arcades, Dance Dance Revolution. The console version of the game for PS2 has special dance pads you can use at home. There’s an exercise section where you put in how much you weigh and start dancing to selected songs. During that time it tells you how many calories you’ve burned, their equivilance to other things (like how many times jumproped, minutes jogging, etc). It also keeps track of your progress. It’s great ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-activities-burn-how-many-calories/185396/5 "2003-07-01T00:02:00Z")
One thing to keep in mind is that calorie counts on any kind of machine are just guesses. A 160 pound marathon runner with 8% bodyfat is going to burn a hell of a lot fewer calories playing DDR for 30 minutes than a 160 pound couch potato with a beer belly.