How Many Treadmill Workout Minutes to Burn 3,500 Daily Calories?

You may hope to burn off a pound in a day, but an attempt to burn 3,500 calories all at once on a regular basis is not healthy. Depending on your size and speed, it could take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours, or 180 to 600 minutes, on the treadmill to burn all those calories. A marathon session like this isn't good for your body, and can be downright dangerous. Always consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise regimen.

A 155-pound person burns about 596 calories in 60 minutes going 5 mph on the treadmill. At this rate, it'll take almost six hours to burn 3,500 calories. Even if you weigh more -- say 185 pounds -- and go at a faster pace of 6 mph, it will still take almost four hours to total 3,500 calories burned. A 125-pound person will need to go six hours at the 6 mph pace. A 300-pound person burns calories at a faster rate, but he is unlikely to be able to keep up a jogging or running pace for a sustained period of time. If this larger person goes 3 mph on the treadmill, he burns about 594 calories per hour -- so it will still take almost six hours total to reach the desired 3,500-calorie burn. If the 155-pound or 185-pound people walk at 3.5 mph, it'll take between nine and a half and 11 hours to finish the goal.

You are better off breaking up the workout over several days to burn the 3,500 calories. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cardio per day, five days per week. Exercising more affords greater benefits, including a higher calorie burn, but speak with your health care provider about how much she recommends you aim for each day. A weekly weight loss of one to two pounds is said to be safe and sustainable for most, and usually comes about with a combination of exercise and dietary measures.