If two people perform the same activity, they will get different results. How is this possible? The answer is that they have different body weight.
If two people with different body weight perform the same activity, they will not have lost the same amount of calories. This is important to keep in mind if you are trying to lose weight.
Many writings about losing weight doing a certain activity are often calculations based on an average weight of about 176 lb (80 kg). This means that if you are not aware of this fact, you may be disappointed finding out that your results are less optimistic than the writings have suggested.
This knowledge may help you avoid any setback with your training and weight loss. Remember the simple fact that if you weigh less you will consume fewer calories, compared to people who weigh more.
The tables below demonstrate this fact. They show that the amount of calories you lose depends on your body weight. Table 1 covers “Sports Activities”, and Table 2 covers “Everyday Activity”. The numbers are divided into three weight groups.
Notice that the last weight group is lacking an above limit since overweight at some point stops the energy consumption. You will not burn more calories since the overweight forces slower movements. Please also notice that you might get another result since the numbers are affected by the intensity of each activity.
Sport activity |
121 lb – 176 lb (55 – 80 kg) |
177 lb – 242 lb (81 – 110 kg) |
243 lb – (111 kg -) |
Table tennis |
30 |
45 |
65 |
Golf |
30 |
60 |
70 |
Swimming (backstroke) |
30 |
45 |
65 |
Dancing (slow) |
35 |
50 |
70 |
Swimming (crawl) |
40 |
55 |
80 |
Cycling 6 mph / 10 km/h |
40 |
60 |
85 |
Volleyball |
45 |
65 |
95 |
Badminton |
45 |
65 |
95 |
Walking fast 3 mph / 5 km/h |
50 |
70 |
100 |
Dancing (intensive) |
50 |
65 |
95 |
Horse riding |
55 |
80 |
110 |
Tennis |
55 |
80 |
115 |
Basketball |
60 |
80 |
120 |
Soccer |
70 |
100 |
140 |
Skiing (downhill) |
80 |
110 |
160 |
Cycling 12 mph / 20 km/h |
90 |
125 |
180 |
Canoeing 4mph /6,5 km/h |
90 |
130 |
185 |
Skiing (long distance) |
100 |
140 |
195 |
Running 6mph /10 km/h |
120 |
165 |
230 |
Running 12 mph / 20 km/h |
165 |
230 |
330 |
Everyday activity |
121 lb – 176 lb (55 – 80 kg) |
177 lb – 242 lb (81 – 110 kg) |
243 lb – (111 kg -) |
Making your bed |
30 |
45 |
65 |
Gardening |
30 |
40 |
60 |
Chopping wood |
60 |
85 |
120 |
Cooking |
30 |
45 |
65 |
Pulling weed |
50 |
70 |
100 |
Sit and talk |
15 |
20 |
30 |
Shoving snow |
65 |
90 |
130 |
Sleeping |
10 |
15 |
20 |
Standing still |
10 |
15 |
25 |
Watching TV |
10 |
15 |
20 |
Cleaning windows |
35 |
50 |
70 |
Cleaning floors |
40 |
55 |
75 |