How to log calories for HIIT Running

swopeswick

Hey Everybody!

How do you go about logging your calories for HIIT running. Keep in mind I do not have a HRM, so I am using the values on the treadmill or am relying on the values provided by MFP. Generally, the treadmill runs higher than MFP so I always use the MFP values to be safe.
In the past, I've just logged the calories based on the number of minutes at the specific speed. For example, if I run 5 minutes at 7.5, 1 at 8.5, 1 at 9.5, 1 at 10.5 as my interval and do that 3 times, I would log it as 3 at 10.5, 9.5, 8.5 and 15 at 7.5 and take those calories. However, articles that I have been reading are suggesting that you burn a lot more calories during HIIT because you recruit fast twitch muscle fibers that you don't use during a normal steady run.
Does anybody have any fact-based info on this?
As of now, I am going to play it safe and record my time per speed to get my calories so I do not over-estimate my calorie burn.

Thanks in advance for your input!
Jim

jlewis2896

Ha! No fact-based info here, but I want to be like you when I grow up!! Right now I average 6.0 on long runs and struggle to get up much faster.......

Way to go, and I do believe you are correct about a higher calorie burn with this type of training. No clue on how to figure that out without an HRM, though! :happy:

shellshalla

I do HIIT and its not necessarily a higher calorie burn, but it continues to burns more calories after your done with your workout is what i've heard. I do one minute intervals of 8.5 and 3 mph for right now and my heart rate goes from about 180 on high intervals to 155 on low intervals. I burn about 200 in 20 minutes of this (that's subtracting warm up and cool down), but usually not more then that. I guess that's not really fact based...just my experience.

tex43

The HIIT does burn more calories,but it's usually after the actual exercise,I can tell you that I burned 1058 based on my HRM from a 1 hour 6 mile run,I was basically doing HIIT through out.but I only counted the calories burned during the time on the run.

Hope this helps!

The HRM are really a fantastic investment!

swopeswick

Thanks for the input... I really appreciate it!

LOL at Wardog's comments!

I think you guys were right on in saying that HIIT keeps the calorie burn long after the workout is over... that is what I recall reading.
Until I get a HRM I am going to continue to simply log the minutes per speed level to get the calorie burn totals and anything that burns additionally after the workout is just a bonus!

Someday I certainly want to get an HRM... it is going to be very interesting to see how the HRM, based on my body's output, compares to what I am seeing on the machines and on MFP, particularly for weight training. Sometimes I get finished with a hard workout and am completely drained and soaked with sweat and MFP tells me I only burned 250 calories in an hour after doing 30+ sets.

Have a great day!