Are the calories burned wrong?

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  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    pinkteapot3 wrote: »
    I'll be the lone dissenter on this topic, yet again.

    I find the estimates spot on for both running and cycling. They tie up with my HRM calculated cals, and I've lost 11lbs in 8 weeks with a goal of 1lb per week loss and eating back ALL of my exercise cals.

    I don't believe that ALL exercise cals are overstated and it irritates me when people claim that none of them are reliable.

    What I always say is that exercise MUST be measured as accurately as food. You weigh your food to the nearest gram. You need to know exactly how many minutes you did cardio for, and at what speed. I use GPS apps that record my runs and bike rides, so I accurately know my average speed. I do think there's an element of some people over-estimating the exercise they do, just as some people under-estimate what they're eating.

    @pinkteapot3‌
    I agree with you. I do believe the OP's calorie estimate is overinflated in this case but I don't believe that all of the MFP entries are grossly exaggerated. Part of the problem, as I mentioned is it doesn't account for intensity. Also, I assume this workout video has a warm up and cool down as part of that 60 minutes, so you wouldn't be going at the same intensity for 60 minutes straight.
    Things like running and walking will be more accurate because they can account for intensity and are fairly well established in energy requirements.

    A lot of people base their beliefs that MFP is overinflated when compared to their HRM. They are assuming the HRM is the right number. It is not necessarily.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I do a HIIT circuits class. According to my friend's Fitbit charge HRM she burned 335 calories in 45 mins, so I suppose if it were an hour it would be 450 or so. That's a hardcore class. So yes, 800 calories is way too high.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    DawnieB1977 wrote: »
    I do a HIIT circuits class. According to my friend's Fitbit charge HRM she burned 335 calories in 45 mins, so I suppose if it were an hour it would be 450 or so. That's a hardcore class. So yes, 800 calories is way too high.

    Unless you are the same height, weight and fitness her burn does not equal your burn

    But for me I would agree .. I get 350 for 45 minutes hard intensity gym workout incorporating steady-state cardio and HIIT and calisthenics / weights .. but then I don't eat it all because of the inaccuracies in the HRM formula against the type of workout I'm doing
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    That's why I wrote 'she burned'. She is shorter than I am, but we have roughly the same BMI and we're at the same level of fitness. I weigh more so maybe I burn more? Either way, I don't eat back exercise calories so it doesn't really matter in theory if I log 1000 calories lol.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    DawnieB1977 wrote: »
    That's why I wrote 'she burned'. She is shorter than I am, but we have roughly the same BMI and we're at the same level of fitness. I weigh more so maybe I burn more? Either way, I don't eat back exercise calories so it doesn't really matter in theory if I log 1000 calories lol.

    Actually, it could matter quite a bit. You can die from not eating enough.
  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    I mean it doesn't matter what the number I log is as I don't eat them, so if it's really over it doesn't matter. I'm not actually burning 1000 calories. Believe me, if I actually burned that many through exercise I'd eat at least half then!

    I usually burn 300-350 for an exercise session (and I probably underestimate a bit) but I eat 1500-1600 calories per day, so don't worry, I'm not about to die through not eating enough :)
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    edited March 2015
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    DawnieB1977 wrote: »
    That's why I wrote 'she burned'. She is shorter than I am, but we have roughly the same BMI and we're at the same level of fitness. I weigh more so maybe I burn more? Either way, I don't eat back exercise calories so it doesn't really matter in theory if I log 1000 calories lol.

    Actually, it could matter quite a bit. You can die from not eating enough.

    Wut? TIL that if you don't log your burn you gonna be ded. :confounded:

    Many people here do not eat back their exercise calories because either there already included it in an activity level or, like me, work off a fixed TDEE method and only eat back exceptional burns...

    We aren't going to die from not eating enough.

    If you are working on a plan that doesn't include eating back calories, it doesn't matter if you log 1 or 1000 cals.
  • FatMoojor
    FatMoojor Posts: 483 Member
    I have found that the number from MFP to be quite a bit lower than my numbers from my HRM.

    Using the treadmill in the gym, set on 8kph and I run for 60 minutes. MFP puts that at about 650. But my HRM tracks that at 937.

    My heart rate and cadence from a treadmill run and a weekend outside run at equal.
  • esjones12
    esjones12 Posts: 1,363 Member
    I too find MFP and my HRM to be very similar on straight cardio. That is probably because you can say how fast you were going which will help calculate your intensity on MFP.

    The problem with the circuit training entry is that MFP can't measure your intensity. I actually use my HRM during circuit training and PT sessions and use 75% of those calories to eat back. I am still waiting for someone who says you can't use HRM for non steady state cardio to give me a formula/reference point that calculates in intensity. I would definitely be interested in checking it out.

    Eating back becomes more important the closer you are to goal weight and if you are doing a ton of exercise.

    All said and done it boils down to trail and error. If you are losing weight then keep logging exercise as you are. If you are tired/hungry then try eating more back and see if you still lose. If you aren't losing weight, then you are over estimating your burns. Assuming you are doing everything else correctly =]
  • julesxo
    julesxo Posts: 422 Member
    midpath wrote: »
    It says I'm burning 800 calories by doing 60 minutes of circuit training but idk if I believe that. I'm 5'10" and 229 lbs,



    For your height and weight that seems about right to me. Best way to know is to get a HRM. I found MFP underestimated calories burned in comparison.
  • julesxo
    julesxo Posts: 422 Member
    julesxo wrote: »
    midpath wrote: »
    It says I'm burning 800 calories by doing 60 minutes of circuit training but idk if I believe that. I'm 5'10" and 229 lbs,



    For your weight that seems about right to me. Best way to know is to get a HRM. I found MFP underestimated calories burned in comparison.

  • DawnieB1977
    DawnieB1977 Posts: 4,248 Member
    EvgeniZyntx wrote: »
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    DawnieB1977 wrote: »
    That's why I wrote 'she burned'. She is shorter than I am, but we have roughly the same BMI and we're at the same level of fitness. I weigh more so maybe I burn more? Either way, I don't eat back exercise calories so it doesn't really matter in theory if I log 1000 calories lol.

    Actually, it could matter quite a bit. You can die from not eating enough.

    Wut? TIL that if you don't log your burn you gonna be ded. :confounded:

    Many people here do not eat back their exercise calories because either there already included it in an activity level or, like me, work off a fixed TDEE method and only eat back exceptional burns...

    We aren't going to die from not eating enough.

    If you are working on a plan that doesn't include eating back calories, it doesn't matter if you log 1 or 1000 cals.

    Thank you :). I was worried I'd accidentally typed earlier in another language and my point wasn't understood!
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