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I remember the first time I questioned if VR fitness calorie burn was actually a real thing. You put on a headset, swing your arms around and move your body in a 360 degree, and somehow you are supposed to call that a workout? It sounds a bit ridiculous when you say it out loud.
But then about 10 minutes into a session, something changes. I got hook, I got taken away to another world.
My breathing gets heavy. My shirt starts sticking to me. I got sweat in places I dont even want to describe. My shoulders start burning, my core tightens up, and I feel like I just ran a mile. The weird part is I am having fun the whole time. It does not feel like punishment the way some cardio workouts do.
That was the first moment I thought, ok wait, this might actually be real. I could get consistent with this, this could be it, my answer to get healthy.
Over time I started noticing other things too. My weight stayed pretty stable, even though I was not doing traditional gym workouts. I hover around 175 lbs and it just stays there. My core feels firmer, probably because I am constantly twisting, ducking, and throwing punches. After a longer session, I get that same “good tired” feeling you get after a good workout, you feel ZEN, you feel at peace.
I do not obsess over exact calorie numbers, but your body does not lie. If you are sweating, breathing hard, and moving nonstop, you are burning energy. VR just tricks your brain into thinking you are playing a game while your body is actually working.
For me, boxing in VR became something more. You just want to get better. It honestly turned into my second love after golf. I catch myself putting in the same kind of focus and repetition I had when I was 16 practicing my swing.
So what does the data actually say?
After two years of tracking my VR fitness calorie burn, here is what I actually found.
After a typical 20 minute boxing session in Supernatural, my Fitbit shows around 150 calories burned. My heart rate usually sits around 120 beats per minute, sometimes a bit higher if I push it. For me, that feels like a solid pace. I am 50, so I try to keep things around 130 and not push anywhere near 170.
I looked it up after and it actually makes sense scientifically and Will affirms it after he looks into his binder. Sorry Will if you read my other articles, hes my Assistant, hes a canadien beaver, he is a whiz with the science stuff, so lets continue. A rough formula says your max heart rate is about 220 minus your age. So for me that is around 170 bpm. Most cardio workouts fall between 50 to 85 percent of that. So sitting around 120 bpm is right in that zone where you are actually doing real work. The VR fitness calorie burn is real. Your heart rate does not lie.
So yeah, it makes sense why I feel it.
How does it compare to other workouts?
When I compare it to other workouts I have done with a Fitbit, the closest thing is honestly golf. When you walk a course for four hours, you do not notice how much you are moving because you are focused on the game. VR boxing is the same thing. You are inside it. You are trying to hit better, move faster, keep your power % up. Then you take the headset off and go, holy shit, I just worked out. Walking or biking sometimes feels like you have to convince yourself to go do it. VR removes that barrier. You just put on the headset and go. That is probably why I have stayed consistent for two years now.
What actually changed in my body?
I did not really get surprised by calorie numbers because I never focused on them that much. What surprised me more was the mirror. Less belly than I used to have. More shape in my upper body. That kind of stuff is harder to fake.
After two years, I can say I definitely see physical changes. My shoulders, biceps, and core all look more defined. Not big like a bodybuilder, but tighter, more athletic. Even other people have noticed when I wear a muscle shirt.
The muscles that really changed for me are the ones you would expect from boxing. Biceps and triceps from all the punching. Deltoids from constantly lifting and rotating the arms. Even the different parts of the shoulder get hit. Front, side, and back. You feel all of it after a solid session.
That is actually why I recently started adding kettlebells and resistance bands into the mix. I want to see if I can build a bit more on top of that base. I will know more in a few months.
Will the Beaver weighs in
Now my buddy Will has his own way of explaining the science. He told me once, a beaver burns calories just existing. Breathing, swimming, carrying branches, building dams. It is all energy. Same thing here. If your body is moving and working, it is burning. Simple as that.
My honest verdict after two years
If you think VR fitness is just waving your arms around, you are wrong. It is a real cardio workout. Especially if you go longer. Those 40 minute sessions, the ones with short breaks between songs, they hit hard. The VR fitness calorie burn from a 40 minute session competes with most traditional cardio options. The music keeps you moving and the boxing makes you want to improve every round, and plus your working out like exemple on the moon, no really.
And that is the secret.
You are not forcing yourself to exercise. You actually want to come back and do it again.
Will would say consistency is the key, keep showing up. Two years later I think he is right. Traditional cardio can stand next to VR fitness. Absolutely.
Here are some related Articles, too choose the best Fitness app for you, and also a workout I use with a 15 lbs kettlebell, and what i do to warm everytime before i start boxing (5 minutes) and also my review of the fitbit, what was the data.
5 minutes warm up article
3 apps for you to choose article
Fitbit data article
Kettlebell routine article
Check list for VR Set up
Quest 2, Quest 3 I have a QUEST2, but i think you can’t buy them new anymore, so i included the QUEST3 (eventually il have to do the switch too)
15lb Kettlebell (check current price)
5-minute physical warm-up helps mental warm-up too.
Micro-Fiber cloth (check current price)
Essential for cardio sessions. Clear lenses = better accuracy.
VR Head Strap (check current price)
More comfortable for 30+ minute workouts. Keeps headset clean.
Floor Fan (check current price)
Cooling down physically helps me cool down mentally.
Hope this helps, for you to pick out the right equipment for your teen.
Thank you for reading.