Calories Burned Running

HappyHope0123
HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm running a course that is 3.3 miles. MFP says I'm burning 287 calories (it takes me 45minutes to complete it, with some big hills involved.) MapMyRun says I'm burning 487Kcal.

Is Kcal the same as calories? That's a 200 calorie difference. What gives?

Replies

  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    they are just estimates. there is no "real" way to count calories burned. it depends on hieght, weight, age. I used to have a table for estimating calories burned. Now I use a HRM which is an estimate also. I just go with faith on my HRM and use it all the time whether it's higher or lower than MFP and Map my run.
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    Thanks for replying. HRM....totally new to exercising here...Heart Rate per Minute?
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    HRM= Heart Rate Monitor.
  • tyediri
    tyediri Posts: 183 Member
    Heart rate monitor! :)
    Thanks for replying. HRM....totally new to exercising here...Heart Rate per Minute?
  • HappyHope0123
    HappyHope0123 Posts: 101 Member
    :) Gunna have to get one of those or start checking it - except I hate wearing a watch when I run.

    Thanks!

    And KUDOS to you on your weight loss!
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    :) Gunna have to get one of those or start checking it - except I hate wearing a watch when I run.

    Thanks!

    And KUDOS to you on your weight loss!

    then you will really hate HRM because you have to wear a chest strap. I'm wearing one right now. but only turn it on when I walk or run.
  • shmulyeng
    shmulyeng Posts: 472 Member
    :) Gunna have to get one of those or start checking it - except I hate wearing a watch when I run.

    Don't buy the wrist watch type HRMs. They are expensive and not very accurate. A chest strap is the way to go. If you don't want to wear the wrist watch receiver, get a chest strap that connects to your phone.
  • scraver2003
    scraver2003 Posts: 526 Member
    www.caloriesperhour.com is a neat website. You have to put in your height, weight, etc. and I compare that with what MFP and Runkeeper say.
  • raycole83
    raycole83 Posts: 28
    http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/calories-burned-calculator

    I always use this website to calculate my calories burned for the distance ran. It also factors in your weight. Once you get a calculation, create the exercise in your Cardio section, i.e., Running (10:10/mile).
  • jchadden42
    jchadden42 Posts: 189
    It is just an estimate. My friend asked me if I wanted to go with the higher calories so that I could justify eating more or if I wanted to go with the lower calories so that I didn't eat more than I burned. Therein lies the question. Of course, I'm always telling her that burning 200 calories in exercise does not mean she should eat a 500 calorie snack.
  • MelanieMamaof5
    MelanieMamaof5 Posts: 75 Member
    Kcal and calories are the same thing. There are a LOT of factors that go into calories burned during exercise. Not only height, weight, age, etc but how well your metabolism is working, your fitness level, etc. As said before, MFP, map my run, and even heart rate monitors are only estimates of what your body is actually burning. If I were you, and you are planning on "eating" your calories (as in allowing yourself to eat according to what you have burned off), I would go by the LOWEST number possible and even only count HALF of those. For instance, if MFP says you burn 300 calories and mapmyrun says 400, go with 300. Then divide that by half (150) and don't "eat" any more than that, if your goal is to loose weight. With time...and religious tracking...you will get a better idea of which source is more accurate.
  • jchadden42
    jchadden42 Posts: 189
    http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/calories-burned-calculator

    I always use this website to calculate my calories burned for the distance ran. It also factors in your weight. Once you get a calculation, create the exercise in your Cardio section, i.e., Running (10:10/mile).

    Thanks for the site info. This agrees with what MFP tells me. Sadly, I used to burn 100 cal/mile, so it was easier to calculate. Now that I'm 20 pounds lighter, I burn about 94 calories per mile. :sad: So now I have to run farther to get the same calorie burn. *sigh*
  • lemonsnowdrop
    lemonsnowdrop Posts: 1,298 Member
    According to my HRM, I burn 250-290 (most of the time it's 280) calories per 3 miles I run. I typically log it as 250 on MFP, even if it's more than that, to avoid overestimating.
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    Estimates vary quite a bit. I generally play by the 100 cals/mile rule, but I'll use up whatever MFP tells me if it's near that number. Between my Garmin, Map My Run, and MFP, my calorie burn varies by about 80 calories, so I usually eat back the lowest number.
  • Mich4871
    Mich4871 Posts: 143 Member
    Estimates vary quite a bit. I generally play by the 100 cals/mile rule, but I'll use up whatever MFP tells me if it's near that number. Between my Garmin, Map My Run, and MFP, my calorie burn varies by about 80 calories, so I usually eat back the lowest number.

    I use a HRM, but I find that my calories burned generally equal the distance I've run, give or take 10-15 cals in either direction.

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