Real Life Fitness Questions Answered

How does Wii Zumba compare with a Zumba class?

Hi, There does not seem to be anything in the exercise list about the amount of kcal burned doing Zumba other than on wii. Would this be the same amount burnt if I did it at my local community center?

Our expert says...

Hi,

As Zumba workouts fuse Latin rhythms with aerobic/dance-style moves into interval training routines where fast and slow rhythms and resistance training are combined to tone and sculpt your body while burning fat, the calorie output is an effective one. So, for an Zumba exercise class you would expect a range of 335-358 calories an hour, depending on how hard you pushed yourself and the quality of your technique so choose a figure from the suggested range each time you do a workout based on how well you feel you trained. With the Wii Zumba, the calories would e essentially the same however it is suggested that as a group exercise environment can enhance motivation and effort it would be advisable to opt for a slightly lower Wii Zumba calorie range of: 275-340 per hour.

The main difference between Wii Zumba and being part of an actual Zumba class is the presence element of being in a group exercise environment. Being part of a group exercise class with an instructor and their infectious enthusiasm is deemed to provide a higher work rate and technical quality then exercise done using a Wii or DVD.

The first time someone does a Wii game or an exercise DVD it often feels like a decent challenge/workout but be aware that after this initial benefit it can subside as the body adapts to doing the same workout regularly. In addition, with Wii and DVD methods the body can also find ‘cheats’, slight technical adjustments which conserve energy/calories (this is a subconscious thing not a conscious decision so not a reflection of your commitment or motivation to your training).

Hope this helps,

Kelly