Exercise Calories

Luckymam
Luckymam Posts: 300
edited September 21 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone have any opinions on the way exercise calories are calculated on MFP? I sort of feel that the amount of extra calories I'm allowed after exercise are too generous.

For example; I noticed someone on here today had played bowling on their Wii console and had been allotted over 200 exercise calories for 35 minutes' play, whereas I'd done 30 minutes of quite high intensity aerobics and according to the Wii, I'd burned only 180 calories.

I've noticed this on a few other things like my elliptical trainer and pedometer. They always give much lower calorie burning readings than MFP.

Any thoughts?

Replies

  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Purchase a Heart Rate Monitor and use the calories burned from there for the most accurate estimate you can get.
  • metco89
    metco89 Posts: 578 Member
    i am not sure either and will be interested to see what ppl have to say on this. When i go swimming and log moderate effort, it says i burn less calories then when i go and log in leisurely swimming for the same amount of time. whats up???? thanks for the post, i am pretty sure we aren't the only ones wondering. also when i play wii bowling for 30 min i don't burn close to 200 calories its more like 130 if that hmmmmm..............................
  • izybalizy
    izybalizy Posts: 19
    I suggest a heart rate monitor, I've found that the calories showing on my fitness pal are not very accurate.
  • hiddensecant
    hiddensecant Posts: 2,446 Member
    If a person weighs more, they will burn more calories than you which was probably the case with the Wii bowler. Check the ticker to see how much weight they have to lose ... it will likely be a bigger number than yours, hehe.

    As for your elliptical trainer and pedometer ... they're both estimating using different techniques, as is MFP. Your best bet at more accurate readings would be a HRM though even that is an estimate!
  • xTattooedDollx
    xTattooedDollx Posts: 426 Member
    Also remember that someone who weighs a lot more lose more calories than someone who isn't as overweight. A heart rate monitor is the only way to be sure.
  • edorice
    edorice Posts: 4,519 Member
    If you get a heart rate monitor get one that lets you calculate calories burned. I got a cheaper/basic one without that option and I have to use a formula to input my bpm.

    http://www.triathlontrainingblog.com/calculators/calories-burned-calculator-based-on-average-heart-rate/
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