How does c25k calculate calories burned

Corinne_Howland

hi, I just finished week 1. I've linked the app to MFP. How does it calculate calories burned without knowing how fast I'm walking/ running?

snappingosprey

Either the C25K app you are using or MFP uses a pre-calculated walk/run value. I just completed week 1 myself and MFP posted a 5.2MPH run and 4.0MPH walk. MFP uses this information along with your profile statistics and the exercise METs to provide an estimate calories burned. The following article explains this:
https://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/265066-the-calories-reported-by-my-gym-machine-don-t-match-myfitnesspal-s-estimates-what-should-i-do-

MFP though will be the first to tell you that the calories burned they give you are not as accurate as the machine you are using itself (provided you enter additional info into the machine like your age and weight) or an activity tracker. I have found MFP to over and under report calories burned compared to the machines and my Polar FT7.

I actually ran 6.0MPH and walked 3.0 so the calories MFP gave were not what my machine gave me. I went with the machine (my heart monitor is busted - need a new strap).

However, your best bet to get the most accurate results is to use a heart rate monitor that calculates calories burned based on your personal characteristics and heart rate.

ChelleBelle2708

I have a FitBit and set it to record an activity when I go for run. It then logs it through MFP. My average per run is approx 275 calories burnt per session