Weighted Items: Which category? How do I calculate?

PhoenyxHellfyre

Hello, I am rather new to using MFP, but have been doing my best to lose weight for a while now. It's neat that I can see my foods broken down, and how exercise correlates into being able to eat more, or have a small treat. Quite fantastic, really. However, I have encountered a couple of small snags in the exercise area.

I use body weights. Ankle weights for everything from every day walking, to extra resistance at the gym. Wrist weights for the same reason. And a weighted vest when I go for a walk around the block, either on my own, or with my dog. (Apparently, being a woman wearing a weighted vest in every day life is horribly taboo, hah.) So, my problems are these: I am reasonably certain that this would fall under the "Cardiovascular" section of exercise, but I can see how it could be "Strength" training, even though I'm not doing any reps or specific exercises - just living my every day life with some added resistance. Should I continue to label it as Cardio?

My second, more pressing problem, is how I calculate those calories burned. When I use the Elliptical at my gym, I input my body weight + the total amount of weights I am wearing, so I have a better idea of calories burned. When I am going for a walk, or bouncing about listening to my headphones for 30 minutes, or even walk around downtown with a friend, I don't have that elliptical following me around giving me an accurate reading. So, how do I gauge how many calories I have burned? If anyone has a solution, or suggestions, that would be marvelous.

jim180155

Label it as cardio, not weight lifting. If you have a smart phone, try an app like MapMyRun that uses GPS to track your distance and speed. You also input your weight, so if you want to you can add the weights that you're carrying and count them as body weight. The app will give you a rough idea of your calorie burn.

PhoenyxHellfyre

I will look into the MapMyRun app, thanks! Do you have an opinion on heart rate monitors that also track calories?

jim180155

I use a Polar FT4 for exercises that the Fitbit won't track. I like it.