Zumba and jogging both burn calories quickly for easier weight loss while providing a heart-healthy cardiovascular workout. While there is no clear calorie-burning winner between the two exercise styles, the best activity is the one that you enjoy the most and are therefore more likely to perform regularly. Zumba is a good choice if you have fun dancing in a group setting, while jogging may be preferable if you prefer a more meditative, private workout. If you're new to exercise, see your doctor before starting a new fitness program.
Jogging Calories
The exact number of calories you burn while jogging depends on your weight and speed, but a 155-pound person jogging at 5 mph burns about 298 calories in 30 minutes, translating to 9.9 calories per minute. By increasing the speed to 5.2 mph, she burns about 11.1 calories per minute. Going much faster may be interpreted as running -- the line is not set in stone -- but at 6 mph, the same person burns about 12.4 calories per minute.
Zumba Calories
The number of calories you'll burn during Zumba vary according to the intensity of your workout, which largely depends on your instructor. The American Council on Exercise, or ACE, commissioned a study on Zumba and found that, on average, participants burned about 9.5 calories per minute -- comparable to a slow jog but not as effective as more rapid jogging. On average, exercisers burned about 369 calories per session, with class duration ranging from 32 to 52 minutes.
Interval vs. Steady State
Despite the number of calories burned during workouts, Zumba may have an edge over steady-state jogging. That's because Zumba provides a similar workout as cardio interval training, according to ACE, which is shown to increase your metabolism after exercise more effectively than maintaining a constant pace. One study, presented at the The Integrative Biology of Exercise VI convention in 2012, found that exercisers burned up to 200 more calories per day after interval training. That said, you can easily incorporate intervals into your jogging routine by alternating short bursts of sprinting with recovery periods of leisurely jogging or walking.
Counting Calories
Losing weight requires burning more calories than you eat, which is why calorie-torching activities like Zumba and jogging can help you slim down. However, exercise alone is not enough to lose weight -- you might even gain weight if you fill up on high-calorie fare after workouts. To lose 1 to 2 pounds per week, the University of Minnesota Medical School recommends that -- in addition to exercising regularly -- men consume 1,800 to 2,000 calories per day and women consume 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day.
Jogging Calories
The exact number of calories you burn while jogging depends on your weight and speed, but a 155-pound person jogging at 5 mph burns about 298 calories in 30 minutes, translating to 9.9 calories per minute. By increasing the speed to 5.2 mph, she burns about 11.1 calories per minute. Going much faster may be interpreted as running -- the line is not set in stone -- but at 6 mph, the same person burns about 12.4 calories per minute.
Zumba Calories
The number of calories you'll burn during Zumba vary according to the intensity of your workout, which largely depends on your instructor. The American Council on Exercise, or ACE, commissioned a study on Zumba and found that, on average, participants burned about 9.5 calories per minute -- comparable to a slow jog but not as effective as more rapid jogging. On average, exercisers burned about 369 calories per session, with class duration ranging from 32 to 52 minutes.
Interval vs. Steady State
Despite the number of calories burned during workouts, Zumba may have an edge over steady-state jogging. That's because Zumba provides a similar workout as cardio interval training, according to ACE, which is shown to increase your metabolism after exercise more effectively than maintaining a constant pace. One study, presented at the The Integrative Biology of Exercise VI convention in 2012, found that exercisers burned up to 200 more calories per day after interval training. That said, you can easily incorporate intervals into your jogging routine by alternating short bursts of sprinting with recovery periods of leisurely jogging or walking.
Counting Calories
Losing weight requires burning more calories than you eat, which is why calorie-torching activities like Zumba and jogging can help you slim down. However, exercise alone is not enough to lose weight -- you might even gain weight if you fill up on high-calorie fare after workouts. To lose 1 to 2 pounds per week, the University of Minnesota Medical School recommends that -- in addition to exercising regularly -- men consume 1,800 to 2,000 calories per day and women consume 1,200 to 1,500 calories per day.