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[J--I'm not sure where she got her calorie-burning info. I added in that all calories burned were per hour, but I'm not sure if that's correct. You may want to check with her.]

If you’re a calorie counter, then you’re on the right track to losing or maintaining weight. When all is said and done, those calories really do count. Of course, shedding those extra pounds is a lot easier with a bit of exercise thrown into the mix. What types of exercise burn the most calories? Is your favorite activity actually worth your weight in sweat?

Find What Works

Everyone is different, which means that everyone will burn a different number of calories during a workout. Men tend to burn more calories than women do, no matter what the sport or exercise may be. This is not always the case, but it’s true more often than not.

Amazingly, one single pound of fat can contain up to 3,700 calories. If you do the math, you’ll realize that burning off even one pound of fat is a difficult task. The good news is that most people can actually burn one or two calories per minute while just sitting (if you’re stuck at a desk all day, then this is refreshing news). The bad news is that you’ll have to work hard to burn more than a couple of calories per day.

Top Activities

Essentially, anything that gets your heart pounding is worth your time and effort. If you want a good activity list to live by, then take a look at this. All activities listed are calories burned by the hour.

Bikram yoga: 300-600 calories per class

Running: 500-800

Cross-country skiing: 550

Downhill skiing: 400-500

Biking: 500-700

Squash: 500–800

If you wind up exhausted and covered in sweat at the end of a workout, you’re probably burning quite a few calories. Still, that doesn’t mean that other types of sports and activities aren’t good for your waistline, too.

Slower Sports

If you love to play a casual game of tennis or lazily roller blade around town, rest assured that you’re still burning calories. The truth is that getting up and moving around is good for you–no matter how you slice it.

When faced with the choice to veg out in from of the TV or get your pulse racing, choose the activity that will make your endorphins dance. As soon as you begin living a healthy lifestyle, you’ll find that those extra inches just begin to slip away. Then again, these tips all become more worthwhile if you can be sure that those calories actually do count.

How Many Calories Per Day?

If you want to find out how many calories you need per day in order to lose weight, take the time to find a decent BMI calculator. A great food log will also help you keep track of the things you consume.

Some great (and very helpful) calculators include:

About Calorie Counter
My Calorie Counter
Calorie Lab
The Daily Plate

As soon as you begin to log your food intake and your activities, you’ll see just how many calories you need to lose, gain, or maintain weight. You may also be surprised at the amount of food that you consume when you’re not thinking, eating out of boredom, or eating as a way to relieve stress.

Why Count Calories?

Even if you don’t want to change your body, having a calorie-conscious diet is a great way to monitor your eating habits. In addition, you’ll find that most of the calculators above offer accurate activity breakdowns.

Counting your calories may be a pain, but it’s a great way to keep tabs on your current diet and exercise routine. Are all of your exercise pains amounting to anything? Find out for sure by tracking your habits.