Can You Lose as Many Calories Jogging in Place as Running?

Any exercise that increases your heart rate will burn calories -- but not all exercises have equal calorie burns. If you're wondering whether you'll burn as many calories jogging in place as going for a run, the answer is maybe. A definitive answer depends on how fast you're able to run.

  1. Jogging in Place

    • Jogging in place burns 119 calories for every 15 minutes of activity for a 150-pound individual; this works out to about 476 calories per hour of jogging in place. As with any exercise, you'll burn more calories if you weigh more and fewer calories if you weigh less.

    Running

    • Running at a slow pace of 12 minutes per mile, a person burns the same number of calories from running as from jogging in place. But unlike jogging in place, which is slow by definition, you can run at a much faster pace and burn more calories. For instance, a 150-pound person running a 10-minute mile burns 153 calories per 15 minutes, or 612 calories per hour. If the same runner can manage a 6-minute-mile pace, he will burn 255 calories per 15 minutes, or 1,020 calories per hour.

    Choosing an Activity

    • Aside from the calorie burn, there are other factors to consider when choosing an activity. Jogging in place has the advantage of being convenient; you can do it in your own living room, a hotel room or anywhere else with limited space. But jogging in place for an extended period of time can be boring. Running outside gives your mind something to focus on, making it a better activity for an extended workout.

    Other Calorie Considerations

    • If you're aiming to lose weight with your exercise you'll need to burn an excess of 3,500 calories to lose a single pound of fat. You can do this simply by exercising more and maintaining your caloric intake, or by combining your exercise with a reduced-calorie diet. You should aim for a daily calorie deficit of 500 to 1,000, which will result in a healthy weekly weight loss in the range of 1 to 2 pounds.