Weight lifting logging question

jmankin68

How do you figure calories associated with exercise. Example 3 sets of 10 bench presses or curling. Does the amount of weight increase calories? Is the time lifting?

Retroguy2000

I use a MET estimate. I've seen those in the range of 3-6 for weights. I put myself at just under 4 MET to be conservative, and lower it a bit more for an arms/shoulders workout compared to leg day. Subtract 1 for the MET I'd use sitting idle instead of working out.

This estimate also comes very close to the estimate MFP gives in Cardio - Strength Training.

Simplest answer is just use what MFP gives you there, for time spent.

kshama2001

Yes, I just use "Strength training (weight lifting, weight training)."

Unintuitively, you log time spent in the Cardio section. "Strength" is just for making notes.

csplatt

my apple watch had a workout setting for traditional weight lifting but i tend to assume the burn it gives me is a little too high

tomcustombuilder

You have to be careful logging weight training as it’s easy to figure too big a calorie burn. Most weight sessions between 30-45 minutes are only a couple hundred calories unless you’re really pushing it with high intensity compound movements.