Machine Calories or Myfitnesspal Calories Burned???

titus21114

So I worked out at the gym this morning for 52 minutes on the elliptical on the manual setting and it said that I burnt 482 calories when I was finished. When I put in 52 minutes of elliptical on Myfitnesspal it said automatically populated 807 calories burnt. I know that I can change this to what the machine says but I wonder if I should or not? The reason I question this is the machine does not know my body such as age, height and weight and myfitnesspal does so I feel like myfitnesspal would more accurately know how many calories I burnt. Wondering what everyone's thoughts are?

JenMc14

807 for an hour seems fairly high to me. What I've done in the past is to take MFP, the machine and another site's number & average it and go with that.

superspork2

Honestly, I would take MFP. I used to think MFP was full of crap, but then I got my heart rate monitor and found they were actually really close. MFP does a good job of taking your age, currently weight and height into account and be more accurate. And 800 cals for an hour of cardio doesnt seem crazy, so I would go with that

titus21114

Honestly, I would take MFP. I used to think MFP was full of crap, but then I got my heart rate monitor and found they were actually really close. MFP does a good job of taking your age, currently weight and height into account and be more accurate. And 800 cals for an hour of cardio doesnt seem crazy, so I would go with that

Awesome thanks!! I agree and think I should go with the MFP number. 800 cals for an hour doesn't seem crazy to me either I've heard of people burning up to 1200 in a Zumba class. And also I felt like I burned a lot I was sweating like crazy (TMI lol).

linkirving

I've wondered this. I always take the lower number, because it would really suck to think I was burning the 800 calories MFP told me when I really only burnt the 157 the machine said. I'd like to get a HRM and really see what I'm burning.

titus21114

That is very true as well. My goal is to not eat the calories that I lose even though they are added to my daily total I can intake. If I do then I try only to eat a small portion of them and its not on junk food.

janupshaw

The machines I use let me program in my age & weight. I take the lowest number (which is usually the machine), but there usually isn't that wide of a spread for me.

titus21114

I've wondered this. I always take the lower number, because it would really suck to think I was burning the 800 calories MFP told me when I really only burnt the 157 the machine said. I'd like to get a HRM and really see what I'm burning.

Maybe I should get a HRM so that I know exactly what I am burning. Good idea!

loubidy

I can fully recommend a polar ft7 it's fantastic!