Burning Calories in the Great Outdoors
During the Summer Land & Wave helps people to have amazing adventures in Dorset.
During the Winter Land & Wave trains new Outdoor Instructors, we run lots of short courses and our flagship 15 week Outdoor Instructor Training Course.
Our trainees are almost always out and about on the coast, in the woods, paddling down rivers and climbing hills.
Working hard in the great outdoors burns lots of energy, replacing the ‘adventure calories’ that you use with great food is part of planning a fantastic day out.
Below is quick round up of the calories that can be used during a ‘day of adventure’; all the data are drawn from British Heart Foundation and BUPA and are based on average heights and weights of people in the UK.
How Many Calories am I Burning Normally?
As guide your body burns a calorie per hour per KG of body weight on ‘resting energy expenditure’.
e.g. The average weight of a man in the UK is 76 KG = 1824 Calories burnt per 24 hours just maintaining basic life functions (breathing, temperature etc)
The calorie count listed below is for extra calories, calories that you’ll use in addition to those you’d normally use.
Coasteering
A ‘full day’ of coasteering normally involves 4 hours in the sea and an additional 2 hours in the coastal environment.
During a full day of coasteering a man will burn an extra 1983 calories.
During a full day of coasteering a woman will burn an extra 1546 calories.
Kayaking
A ‘full day’ of kayaking normally involves 5 hours of consistent actvity and an additional 1 hour in that environment.
During a full day of kayaking a man will burn an extra 2095 calories.
During a full day of kayaking a woman will burn an extra 1634 calories.
Climbing
A ‘full day’ of climbing normally involves 3 hours of climbing and an additional 3 hours at the crag.
During a full day of climbing a man will burn an extra 3132 calories.
During a full day of climbing a woman will burn an extra 2442 calories.
Hill-walking
A ‘full day’ of hill walking normally involves 5 hours of walking and climbing and an additional 1 hour in the landscape.
During a full day of hill walking a man will burn an extra 2572 calories.
During a full day of hill walking a woman will burn an extra 2006 calories.
Paddle Boarding
A ‘full day’ of Paddle Boarding normally involves 4 hours of consistent activity and an additional 2 hours on the beach etc.
During a full day of paddle boarding a man will burn an extra 1246 calories.
During a full day of paddle boarding a woman will burn an extra 972 calories.
How Many Calories Do I need to Eat?
This is what’s important – if you don’t take on enough fuel you’ll struggle to maintain energy and focus, you wont be as able to learn or enjoy your environment.
If you regularly fail to eat enough calories you’ll lose body-weight and will struggle to keep up energy levels through a day of adventure.
This is how many calories you’ll need to eat in a 24 hour period.
(weight in kg x 24) + extra calories needed for the adventure you have planned.
I’m a fat chap, I weigh 115 KG. If I’m planning to go out coasteering for the day I’ll probably burn 2760 (weight in kg x 24) + 1983 = 4743 calories
Get out there. Have adventures. Journey, explore, discover. Share those experiences whenever you can.
Land & Wave trains outdoor instructors: www.landandwave.co.uk/training…
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26 August 2018 by Owen Senior
