Playing ping pong is one of the best ways of staying fit. It provides a whole-body workout, burning a lot of calories in a short period. But just how effective is this exercise?
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Finding the Number of Calories Burnt
The best place to start is by looking at the number of calories that you can burn when playing ping pong. There are a few factors that will determine how many calories you will be burning. First, how long you will be playing for. Obviously, the longer the game lasts the more calories it will burn.
A second element to consider is how much you weigh. The more you weigh the more calories will be burnt during high-intensity activity, like a game of table tennis.
It’s also important to consider how intense the game will be. Because of this, a practice session will often burn fewer calories than a competitive session.
With these elements in mind, we can calculate how many calories you can burn when playing ping pong. In most cases, you will lose between 5 to 14 calories per minute. If you opt to play for half an hour, you will be burning between 150 to 420 calories. After an hour, you will have lost between 300 to 840 calories.
This is just a rough estimate. If you want a more precise figure, you can use an online calculator, like this one.
Tips for Burning Calories With Table Tennis
If you are planning on using table tennis to lose weight, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you should stretch before each game. This will help prevent injuries. You’ll need a whole-body stretch.
If this is your first-time playing ping pong, it can quickly drain your energy and leave you exhausted. Because of this, it’s best to play a shorter game at the beginning. After a few sessions, your stamina will improve and you can increase the length of the game.
Finally, there are some exercises that you can do by yourself. For example, you can set up an automatic machine to shoot balls at you. This can be a good way of training yourself. But you will often get the best results by playing with an opponent. This increases the intensity of the game, so you will always be pushing yourself to the limit.
Reasons to Use Table Tennis to Lose Weight
Ping pong is a relatively effective way of losing weight when compared to other sports. For example, you will usually be able to burn around 300 calories each half-hour. This is more effective than other activities. For example, weight lifting will only burn 108 calories. Swimming and jogging are both less effective, both only burning 216 calories.
Another huge benefit is how accessible this sport is. The game is very easy to learn. Most people will be able to pick it up within a few minutes. Plus, you won’t need to worry about purchasing any expensive equipment. The biggest purchase on the table. As long as you buy a good one, it will last for several years. If you aren’t sure what qualities you should be looking for, check out this analysis of indoor ping pong tables.
While it will provide a whole-body workout, this game is easy for anyone to learn and play. Anyone will be able to play. Even if you have physical ailments or limited mobility, you will still be able to enjoy the game. Because of how easy ping pong is to play people of all ages will be able to participate.
Ping pong has become a global game. There are thousands of clubs and millions of players around the world. Because of this, you should be able to build a network of local people to play with. Not only is the social aspect of the game fun, but it also motivates you to keep pushing yourself to the limits.
Will Table Tennis Help You Lose Weight?
Whether you will lose weight will depend on two elements. First, the number of calories you are burning. In this area, table tennis is quite successful. However, it will also depend on the number of calories that you are consuming. If you burn more than you consume, you will lose weight.
However, maintaining a healthy diet can often be challenging, especially since it is hard to keep track of the number of calories you are eating. It can help to keep a food journal of the week. Then, you can find the average calorie intake for each day. This tool can help you determine the number of calories in everyday foods.
Other Benefits of Table Tennis
Playing ping pong is about more than just burning calories. There are plenty of other benefits that you can experience when playing table tennis.
The game will require you to track the movement of the ball closely. This is a good way of improving your focus. Plus, you will be able to enhance your hand-eye coordination. Plus, as you are playing your balance will start to improve.
Though the game is simple, it is also a physical challenge. You will be improving your flexibility. It will be able to help you to build strength and tone muscles. Furthermore, you will need to be able to get to the ball quickly. Because of this, you will be able to improve your reflexes and boost your reaction time.
These benefits will also apply to your mental health. You will need to think about what tactics you are going to employ during the game. For this reason, there is some evidence that playing ping pong will help people who have been struggling with dementia and might be used to ward off Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, exercise will release endorphins, which are responsible for making you feel happy.
Read More:
How to Choose Ping Pong Table For Player
How to play ping pong For Beginner and Professional
Conclusion
Ping pong is often viewed as merely a fun activity. But it will provide an intense full-body workout. You can easily burn over 400 calories an hour when playing. So, if you are seeking a low-intensity activity to help you lose weight, you should consider taking up this sport.
