MFP calorie counter

jpads1234
jpads1234 Posts: 95 Member
in Getting Started
Hi all

I've got a question about the MFP calorie counter being accurate. I just got back form doing 45 on the elliptical and the counter on their read 750. When I type in 45 min for elliptical training it comes up with 900. which one should I use? Also Do I get to eat those calories back?

thanks for the help

Replies

  • Sashoi
    Sashoi Posts: 295 Member
    Mfp over estimate calorie burns so get a hrm to be more accurate.
  • slimjame
    slimjame Posts: 128 Member
    Hello! I definitely agree that a heart rate monitor is the best option. I keep meaning to get one, but then Christmas came and I spent all of my money on other people :P. Therefore, I would suggest using what your elliptical says and not what MFP says. A lot of people also say that the exercise machines could either be overestimated or underestimated. I personally believe that I'd rather low-ball my exercise logging then over doing it and then having it work against me. What I typically do on my home elliptical is tack off 50 calories that I've burned. I'm not saying that you have to or should do this, but that is just what I do and until I get my HRM I have only the slightest confidence that it is accurate ;). With any luck, I am under-logging anyway
  • jpads1234
    jpads1234 Posts: 95 Member
    Does the Heart Rate Monitor track calories?
  • mwhite61451
    mwhite61451 Posts: 208 Member
    Does the Heart Rate Monitor track calories?
    Depends on what you get. I just got a Garmin 910XT. It counts calories. I think its very accurate...and yes it calculates lower than MFP. As someone else said, in the absence of a HRM use the readout from the machine.
  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    You are meant to eat your exercise calories back. However, as others have mentioned, it's important to make sure your calorie burns are accurate. When in doubt, eat half of them. :smile:
  • jpads1234
    jpads1234 Posts: 95 Member
    Great points all. What is the best HRM to get? I friend of mine just recommended fitbit.com anyone had any luck with that one?
  • Nikkiekoala
    Nikkiekoala Posts: 18 Member
    I have found that the Elliptical machine cal. burn is a smidge high but the MFP is way too high. I have used a HRM and it was way off! It was off by 300 calories lower compared to the elliptical. I sent the hrm back and got a different one, figured it was a bad monitor. The new one was the same. I even tested it out with a friend and the monitor she uses. It was the same brand just different model. We worked out together, did the same workout on the elliptical, same speed, same distance. same amount of time and our heart rates were the same. She weighs 70 lbs less than me and her hrm said she burned MORE than me. We compared her HRM calorie burn with the Elliptical and there was only a 30 calorie difference between the monitor and machine. So given that info. I go by the machine and I subtract about 50 cals. and figure that is pretty close. I do eat my burned calories but leave maybe a 100-200 to make up for any possible miscalculations in food calories. It seems to have worked. I have lost 1-2 pounds every week since I've been on MFP.

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