Can You Lose a Pant Size in Aerobics Classes?

If you find your pants are fitting a little more snugly around your waist, you've got two options: Buy larger pants or commit to exercising to shed a few pounds. Presuming you choose the latter -- and healthier -- option, your next step is choosing the exercises you'll use to burn fat. For effective weight loss and an upbeat, group-style of workout, join an aerobics class at your gym. Through dedication to this exercise, you can soon drop a size so your pants fit comfortably again.

  1. Burning Fat

    • Knowing the dynamics of gaining and losing fat will help you set realistic goals. According to MayoClinic.com, 1 pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories. By burning this many calories beyond what you consume, which is known as creating a calorie deficit, you'll lose 1 pound. Aim to create a deficit of 500 calories daily to lose 1 pound a week. If you can consistently keep your body in a calorie deficit through diet and frequent aerobics classes, you'll experience weight loss.

    Aerobics Calories Burned

    • The calories you'll burn during an aerobics class depends largely on the type and intensity of the class. According to data from HealthStatus, a 185-pound person will burn 383 calories during a 45-minute low-impact aerobics class and 441 calories during a 45-minute high-impact aerobics class. The same person will burn 441 calories during a 45-minute low-impact step aerobics class and 666 calories during a 45-minute high-impact step aerobics class.

    Waist Fat

    • Even if your goal of taking aerobics classes is to just burn enough fat around your waist to drop a pant size, you'll have to be patient. When you burn calories to burn fat, the fat loss occurs throughout your body, rather than in a specific area. MayoClinic.com suggests it's plausible to lose 1 to 2 pounds in a week, but this weight won't exclusively be from your waist area. As such, it might take several weeks for you to lose a pant size.

    Choosing Your Class

    • When selecting the aerobics class that's right for you, a number of factors are worthy of consideration. If you frequently experience joint pain during workouts, opt for a low-impact class, in which both feet are never off the floor at the same time. If you're comfortable with stepping, try a step aerobics class. The platforms in step aerobics typically vary between 4 and 10 inches, the latter of which is typically best for people who are experienced with the exercise. To keep your workout engaging, consider joining the class with a friend.