Burning 1,000 calories in a day may sound like a lofty goal, but is it? And is it even healthy?
The short answer: It depends.
How difficult it is to burn 1,000 calories depends on how you define “burning 1,000 calories.”
Almost everybody’s body requires at least 1,000 calories a day through essential biological functions, like replenishing hormone levels and building new tissues.
Daily activities such as cleaning your house, walking, and gardening can also burn a significant number of calories throughout the day. For some people, these activities may burn more than 1,000 calories.
Burning 1,000 calories through exercise alone or in a single exercise session is more difficult, but not impossible. For example, a 150-pound person running at a 10-minute mile pace for 90 minutes burns about 1,020 calories.
That depends on your reason for trying to burn them.
If you’re an active person who eats enough to replenish the calories you burn, there’s nothing wrong with burning 1,000 calories a day through exercise.
However, exercising vigorously to lose weight quickly or to offset binge eating are not healthy habits and can be signs of an eating disorder.
Living with an eating disorder can be difficult, but you are not alone. There are many resources available to help you.
Keep reading as we examine what you would have to do to burn 1,000 calories a day and help you determine whether it’s realistic.