Is basketball any good for fat loss?

The NEW definition of fat loss training revealed

By Tom Venuto, NSCA-CPT, CSCS
Burn The Fat
QUESTION: Hi Tom. I have asked several other experts about
this and so far no one seems to give me an EXACT answer.

Some trainers tell me I have to go steady and nonstop
for 30 minutes or more to burn fat. Others tell me
I have to do intervals and they have to be in a
very specific ratio of work to recovery interval.

I'm getting tired of my cardio ritual and would like a change.
I love basketball. I could play for an hour and enjoy every
minute of it, and I feel like i'm getting a good workout
doing it.

But is it really the same for fat burning as a good, steady,
intense run?

thank you

Dan 
ANSWER: Dan, I just plugged in basketball to my calorie calculator
and it says that if you weigh 185 pounds, moderate basketball
(full court game play) burns 839 calories per hour.

Moderate basketball (non-game) is 528 calories per hour. I'm
guessing "non-game" means either half court or just casual play
with your buddies.

Either way, 528-839 calories burned per hour sounds like a good
fat burner to me. Don't you agree?

Actually, I wouldn't argue with you if you wanted to say it's
better than steady cardio because you'll have a variety of
different challenges and intensity levels - running down the court,
jumping, pivoting, shooting - and you said you enjoy it.

If you feel guilty when you finish your game, as if you didn't
do enough, when the game is over, just run intervals up and
down the court... do about 6-10 of them or until you yak.
(just kidding).

If I were to ever upgrade the information in my book about
"cardio" today, I don't think I would change my recommendations
much. However, I might change some of the language to make it
clearer that fat loss is about BURNING calories and that your
choices are virtually infinite.

The problem, in my opinion?

The word "Aerobics" sets people off... especially the macho guys.

There's an instant emotional connotation carried in the word "aerobics,
and it's negative for many people.

"Aerobics" is also usually a very narrow definition, making for
a fairly small list of choices.

I like the word "cardio" a little better, because it's a little broader,
but even "cardio" carries with it some pre-conceived notions and
it's unclear whether it's a good fat burner.

Is basketball cardio?  I suppose it depends on your definition.

Is basketball a good fat burner? Heck yeah. But you might not think
so if you were inflexible about how you define exercise and training.

What I would do if I wanted to most clearly define what makes
a good fat burner, I'd recommend that you focus on:
 
"INCREASING ENERGY EXPENDITURE" (BURN MORE!)

This description leaves the choice of activity up to your own
personal interpretation and personal preference.

Is 500 to 800 calories per hour expended a lot of energy
to expend? You bet. Better still is the fact that you enjoy it.

I know, I know, everyone wants to be told EXACTLY what to do;
how many minutes, what intensity, what type, what heart rate,
blah, blah, blah, and gurus are infamous for being dogmatic
about their systems as the "best way" or "only way."

But what if Dan loves basketball and Tom loves the Stepmill
and Joe loves to jog and Kyle likes calisthenics and John likes
kettlebells and Suzy likes kickboxing? Then what?

By changing your language and focusing on increasing "energy
expenditure" (Burning more), and considering personal likes
and dislikes, that should change your conception
of what efficient fat burning exercise is.

DEFINITION OF GOOD FAT BURNING EXERCISE =
High # of calories burned/expended

DEFINITION OF GREAT FAT BURNING EXERCISE =
High # of calories burned/expended per unit of time

DEFINITION OF WHOOP-ASS FAT BURNING EXERCISE =
High # of calories burned in a short period of time
and you love doing it!  It's play time!

Fat oxidation and excess post exercise energy expenditure and
all that other scientific stuff (that I could bore you to death
talking about) does matter, but your primary focus should be on:

1) Burning as many calories as you can in the time you have.

2) Finding something you like to do.

3) Focusing on RESULTS above all else... Is your body fat
decreasing or not?

Using my new definition for fat burning exercise should help lift
the fog of confusion that has been created by only defining fat
burning exercise as"aerobics" or "cardio."

The word "Aerobics" is somewhat restrictive in scope and
definition. The possibilites for "expending energy" are endless.

Unfortunately, so are excuses for not doing it.

So now, go forth and BURN THE FAT!

Train hard and expect success,
 
Tom Venuto
Fat Loss Coach

PS. By the way, you don't see a lot of fat jiggling around the
court in the NBA do you?