Calculating Calories Burnt

JoT2013

Just wondering, how does everyone calculate their exercise calories? I'm asking because I notice that not all exercises are listed on here. Such as squats, lunges etc. Do any of you use other sites to help?

vegetarian218

I use www.acaloriecalculator.com/calories-burned-calculator/

vorgas

You're looking at the weight lifting calories, and those are difficult to calculate with the MFP method.
MFP calculates based on time, which isn't really applicable on weights. People have different rest periods, weights vary greatly, etc.
In the cardio section there is a 'weight lifting' for an approximate burn.

JoT2013

Thanks...at least I have a staring point now!:happy:

vorgas

If you really want to get technical...

The amount of energy required to lift a weight is about .00032 calories per pound per foot.

Figure the average lift is about 2 feet, so that's .00064 calories per pound.

Your body is horribly inefficient, so it actually takes quite a few calories to apply that energy to the weight. It depends on your skill level, but it's going to be roughly 5 to 10 times. So say 0.00448.

Then there's the negative portion of the lift. If you're on a machine and just letting it glide back quickly, not much in the way of calories. If you're doing free weights and controlling the motion, it may be good for another calorie or two. Call it .0048. Heck, round it up to .005.

Not all lifts are created equal either. A free weight squat burns more calories than a smith machine squat which burns more calories than an incline leg press. It's tough to say, exactly, what you're plowing through. If you're doing big compound lifts it could be .0125 calories per pound. If you're doing machine curls and ab twists it might be about .025 calories per pound.

Finally, if you're doing free weights, and you're not a total goober, you're racking and re-racking all the weights. Just call it an extra 10 to 20 calories.