logging exercise

monica_reinert
monica_reinert Posts: 99 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello MFP Friends,

I have a question regarding logging exercise. I have been logging my daily exercise with the MFP link. Recently I bought new workout dvd's and had no clue how to count them towards burning calories. I went and bought a heart monitor that tracks calories burned. What the monitor reads vs logging with MFP is way different. A 30 min low aerobic workout on the MFP link says I only burn about 250 calories vs the monitor reads 550. Which tool should I trust?

Replies

  • dj59lane
    dj59lane Posts: 52 Member
    trust the monitor I just enter what my FitBit says and create my own exercise.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Hello MFP Friends,

    I have a question regarding logging exercise. I have been logging my daily exercise with the MFP link. Recently I bought new workout dvd's and had no clue how to count them towards burning calories. I went and bought a heart monitor that tracks calories burned. What the monitor reads vs logging with MFP is way different. A 30 min low aerobic workout on the MFP link says I only burn about 250 calories vs the monitor reads 550. Which tool should I trust?

    The heart rate monitor. 550 does sound a bit high, but it was a new workout for you. After you've done it a few times the number should level out a bit. Also, MFP can't know how hard you're working .... they don't know your resting heart rate or your "working" heart rate.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    You can't trust all HRMs, some are better than others. Does yours have a chest strap or is it watch only? Brand/model?

    550 sounds really high, especially for 30 minutes of what you're describing as low aerobic (meaning low impact I assume). If you plan on eating back the calories, I'd either go with the lower reading from MFP or split the differenct and log it as 400.
  • TR0berts
    TR0berts Posts: 7,739 Member
    When in doubt, go with the lower number.
  • daftthoughts
    daftthoughts Posts: 88
    Although it's tempting to log the highest number and go with that, like a poster above said there's no 100% accuracy depending on the model of HRM.

    If you log the highest number, try to eat no more than 50% of your exercise calories. This allows you wiggle room and ensures you don't go over your cal goal. :)
  • monica_reinert
    monica_reinert Posts: 99 Member
    Thank you everyone for your advice.

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