Why Burpee Exercise Burns So Many Calories
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Why Burpee Exercise Burns So Many Calories
Published on: 26th May, 2023
Last Updated on: 17th May, 2024

If you’re even slightly into fitness and workouts, then there’s no chance that you haven’t heard of burpees, the compound exercise that’s usually a part of High-Intensity Interval Training workouts. Burpees are exercises that use your body weight to engage multiple groups of muscles to strengthen them and burn calories. The ability of burpees to burn so many calories is the primary reason they’re also included in any weight loss workout routine.

In this blog, let’s go into some detail as to what a burpee is, how you can practise it, and why this full-body exercise burns so many calories.

What is a Burpee?

A burpee is a high-intensity workout that essentially combines four different movements: a jump, squat, plank and push-up. When these movements are done in quick succession, leading one to the next, then the whole movement is termed a burpee.

Burpees are most commonly practised as a form of cardio exercise to burn calories and are especially included in HIIT workouts. They’re taxing workouts and can be too intense for some because they involve multiple muscle groups throughout the body and are done at pace.

How To Do A Burpee Correctly

Burpees exercise involves multiple movements and hence it is important to follow the correct form and technique for the most effectiveness. Here are the steps to perform burpees:

  • Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms by your sides.
  • Lower your body into a squat position by bending at the knees and hips, with your hands on the ground in front of you.
  • Quickly jump your feet back into a plank position, with your hands directly underneath your shoulders.
  • Lower your body down towards the ground by performing a push-up.
  • Quickly push your body back up into a plank position.
  • Jump your feet forward towards your hands and return to the squat position.
  • Finally, explosively jump up, reaching your arms overhead.
  • Land softly and immediately go into the next repetition.
  • Continue the same steps for 30-60 seconds, followed by rest.

Burpee Modification

Sometimes, doing all the movements in a burpee can prove to be too difficult. In that case, one can skip any one movement to make it slightly easier. For example, you can skip the push-up part and follow the rest of the steps. Instead of leaning into the push-up during your plank, just hold the plank position for a few seconds and directly go into a squat.

The Science Behind The Burpee: Why it Burns So Many Calories

Burpees are among the exercises that burn the most calories and that’s the reason they’re used in weight-loss routines. So why does the burpee burn so many calories?

There are several reasons. Burpee exercises engage multiple muscle groups at once, including your legs, core, chest, shoulders, and arms. This means that you're working more muscles with each repetition, resulting in more calories being burnt. Burpees have the potential to burn 10 calories a minute or 600-700 calories per hour for a person of average weight.

Another factor that contributes to the calorie burn of the burpee is the fact that it's a high-intensity exercise. When you perform a burpee, your heart rate increases rapidly, leading to a higher calorie burn. This effect is even more when you perform the exercise in a HIIT format, where you alternate periods of high-intensity exercise with periods of rest.

Finally, the burpee is a full-body exercise that requires a lot of energy to perform. Not only do you need strength to execute the movements properly, but you also need cardiovascular endurance. This means that the burpee can be an effective way to improve both your strength and your cardiovascular fitness, leading to a greater overall calorie burn.

If you’re looking to get onto the burpee bandwagon and start practising these intense exercises, then download FITPASS and find a great gym near you in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other metro cities to begin your burpee routine. Along with the ability to locate the best gym near you, FITPASS also offers comprehensive fitness support so that you can reach your fitness goals.

Written By
FITPASS Editorial Team
FITPASS Editorial Team
Content Writer
The writers, storytellers and day-dreamers - making sure that they pen down their thoughts in the best possible manner. With an expertise in writing for Health & Lifestyle, they used the platform to share their knowledge to the readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key muscle groups targeted by burpees?

Being a full-body workout, burpees engage multiple muscle groups like those of the arms, chest, quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and core.

How do burpees help in burning more calories compared to other exercises?

Burpees are among the top exercises that burn the most calories because they involve multiple movements of the whole body at a high pace and intensity. Such an exhausting exercise can tire your body out quickly and hence there is a greater calorie burn due to burpees as compared to other less intense exercises.

What are some variations of burpees for different fitness levels?

Beginners can practice half burpees by skipping any one movement from a full burpee. Experts, on the other hand, can perform burpees with dumbbells to make them more challenging.

What is the main purpose of Zumba?

The main purpose of Zumba is to promote fitness via high-intensity dance moves that are essentially cardio workouts. People may join Zumba classes for many fitness goals, like achieving weight loss, toning muscles or incorporating some physical activity into their daily routine. Some people just love to dance and Zumba can be practised as a purely recreational activity as well.

How many calories burned doing burpees?

Doing burpees can burn approximately 10-15 calories per minute, depending on your weight and intensity. They are a high-intensity full-body exercise that significantly boosts cardiovascular fitness and calorie burn.

How many calories do burpees burn?

Burpees burn about 10-15 calories per minute, depending on weight and intensity. As a high-intensity exercise, they provide a substantial calorie burn and improve cardiovascular and muscular endurance.

How many calories does a burpee burn?

Each burpee burns approximately 1-2 calories, depending on your weight and intensity. They are highly effective for cardiovascular fitness and calorie burning due to their full-body engagement and high-intensity nature.

How many calories does burpees burn?

Burpees can burn approximately 10-15 calories per minute, depending on your weight and workout intensity. This high-intensity exercise engages multiple muscle groups, making it efficient for burning calories and improving fitness.

How to do a burpee?

To do a burpee, start standing, squat down and place hands on the floor, jump feet back to a plank, perform a push-up, jump feet forward, and then jump up with arms overhead. Repeat for desired reps, maintaining good form.

What are burpees?

Burpees are a full-body exercise combining a squat, plank, push-up, and jump. They improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, and endurance, making them an effective high-intensity workout for overall fitness.

What is burpees exercise?

Burpees are a high-intensity, full-body exercise that combines a squat, plank, push-up, and jump. They enhance cardiovascular fitness, build strength, and improve endurance, making them a staple in many workout routines.

What is burpees in exercise?

Burpees are a full-body, high-intensity exercise involving a squat, plank, push-up, and jump. They are excellent for building strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness, often included in HIIT and functional training workouts.

How do i do burpees?

To do burpees, start standing, squat down and place hands on the floor, jump feet back to plank, perform a push-up, jump feet forward, and jump up with arms overhead. Repeat, maintaining form for maximum benefit.

How to do a burpees?

To do burpees, start standing, squat and place hands on the floor, jump feet back into a plank, do a push-up, jump feet back to hands, and jump up. This high-intensity move boosts strength and cardio fitness.

How to do burpees?

To do burpees, start standing, squat and place hands on the floor, jump feet back into a plank, do a push-up, jump feet back to hand.

How to do exercise burpees?

To do burpees, start standing, squat down and place hands on the floor, jump feet back into a plank, perform a push-up, jump feet forward to hands, and then jump up with arms overhead. Repeat for desired reps.

How to do the burpees?

To do burpees, start standing, squat down and place hands on the floor, jump feet back to a plank, perform a push-up, jump feet forward, and then jump up with arms overhead. Repeat for desired reps, maintaining good form.

What are the benefits of burpees?

Burpees improve cardiovascular fitness, build muscle strength, and enhance endurance. They burn calories, boost metabolism, and engage multiple muscle groups, making them an effective full-body exercise.

What does burpees work?

Burpees work the entire body, targeting major muscle groups such as the chest, arms, legs, core, and shoulders. They improve cardiovascular fitness, strength, and endurance, making them a comprehensive exercise.

What muscles does burpees work?

Burpees work several muscle groups including the chest, shoulders, triceps, core, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. This full-body exercise enhances strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness.

What type of exercise is burpees?

Burpees are a high-intensity, full-body exercise that combines elements of aerobic and strength training. They improve cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and endurance.

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