Spin Class?

I started joining in on spin classes at my gym a few weeks ago and really liked it.  My gym is so busy at the times that I can go, that I always have to wait for an elliptical or a treadmill, so joining a class means I at least get to start at a specific time without waiting around.  I've decided to go to a class once or twice a week for some variety.

I am currently around 130 lbs (not weighing myself out of fear), and I'm 5'2" ish.  CC just told me that 60 minutes of vigorous effort in a spin class will burn 642 calories, for my height and weight.  That just seems like waaaay too much.  I work my butt off in those classes, but that just seems insane.  Has anyone else had problems with CC giving them extremely high esitmates? Does anyone ever use a heart rate calorie counter during spin classes, and knows the real number of calories burnt?

Spin does actually burn that many calories if u go hard for the entire hour... I adjust my time down to about 45 mins to account for warm up, breaks, recovery etc....

I just googled 'spinning calories burned' and it all said over 600 calories!! so sound aobut right to me!!!

I use a heart rate monitor and I usually burn 350-400 cals in a 45 min spin class. I'm 5'6" & 168. CC amounts are good as a guideline or estimate only. For your own personal burn, you need a HRM.

I don't normally count the number of calories I burn, I just make sure I get 3-4 workouts every week, so I guess it doesn't really matter.  It makes sense then why I'm sooo hungry later in the evenign after a spin class! 

Just to let you know, CC offers many levels of effort. Look at the watts on your bicycle computer if you have one because it is really easy with this exercise to over-estimate the level of effort. Personally, I've been doing spinning for more than 6 months now and I always put 100 watts - light effort because my speed usually varies between 50 to 200 watts in the hour of the class. It's really, really hard to maintain 150-200 watts for a long time even if you feel your effort is moderate or vigorous.

Class was great tonight! I definately felt it!

Thanks for the suggestion smurf, but the bikes we use don't have anywhere for you to read the watts.  Isn't effort how you feel your doing though?  If I feel like I'm putting in a vigorous effort and can only give a little bit more, than aren't I working vigorously?  Someone who's less in shape than me will require more effort to reach the same watts, so they will burn more calories than me.  Does that make any sense?

hey! how are those spin classes? i really want to try them but i feel soooooo intimidated .. like i'm guna go in there and fall off the bike somehow, haha ^^;;

Original Post by sweet_cheekz:

hey! how are those spin classes? i really want to try them but i feel soooooo intimidated .. like i'm guna go in there and fall off the bike somehow, haha ^^;;

 The bikes (at least the ones at my gym) have straps on the peddles so your feet stay secure.

you might want to have a seat cushion as well because your behind is really sore by the time you get done....

i love spin classes!

I do a spin and circuit-type class every Tuesday at 8:30 am for 45 mins on the bike and then 45 minutes of sculpt (its like core training and weights and toning type things)

its awesome! this mornings workout deff made me extra hungry though;..