calorie burn: up or down with weight loss

jayb376
jayb376 Posts: 8
in Fitness and Exercise
I have been using a polar ft7 hrm for a little better than a year, over that time i have been down as much as 40lbs. From what I have read as your weight loss increases, ie your overall weight goes down, your calorie burn for the same exercise should also go down. However I am finding the exact opposite, my calories burned for the same 50 minute spin class have gone up.

Any one have any comments on this or suggestions as to why it is? Am I doing something wrong? I like the results I am getting on my hrm but I don't want to buy into them if they are not accurate.

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    The same workout at the same speed will lead to lower calorie burns as your weight drops.

    Did you adjust your weight setting on the HRM? Could you be working harder, thus the higher burn number? Any caffeine/stims before hand?

    As for "accurate"... it's impossible to know for sure. If you're actual results over time end up being pretty close to your expected results, then your estimates are close enough (or at least the errors are balancing each other out). If expected results don't match actual results, then tweak something.
  • stealthq
    stealthq Posts: 4,298 Member
    Are you exercising with more intensity? As you lose weight and get better at an exercise, you may start working harder, yet the level of difficulty feels the same to you. It can be enough to overcome the decrease in calories burned due to a reduction in weight.

    Like when I started running, it was at ~11min/mi and now I run 9min 30sec/mi, but the effort feels similar. In the same amount of time, I'd burn more now than I would have before.
  • jayb376
    jayb376 Posts: 8
    I have adjusted my weight setting and I considered the being in better shape thing I just figured that most people who lose weight thru exercise would also get in better shape and could not understand why if the general rule is lower weight lower calorie burn it would not take into account the increase in physical fitness. But so long as it makes sense to someone else I will continue on with what my hrm tells me, which is good cause it lets me eat more and still lose weight which is perfect. :p
  • VelveteenArabian
    VelveteenArabian Posts: 758 Member
    It depends.

    The same exercise with the same amount of effort will result in a lower calorie burn at a lighter weight. However as you lose weight your fitness level should be increasing which could mean you're putting more effort into your workouts therefore exerting yourself more.

    It's not clear cut.

Categories