Don't trust those machine read outs!

Kate_UK

I just did a 10 minute experiment, I wore my HRM and also set my stationary bike to record calories burnt. My HRM said 50 the bike said 148. OMG! No wonder I wasn't loosing weight when I was doing a lot of work on the bike and eating my calories back. I dread to think how many calories I've eaten in the past beacuse I'd thought I'd burnt loads on the bike that day!

ETA I just went to log in it my exercise diary and MFP gave me 123 cals for the same workout.

binary_jester

I just did a 10 minute experiment, I wore my HRM and also set my stationary bike to record calories burnt. My HRM said 50 the bike said 148. OMG! No wonder I wasn't loosing weight when I was doing a lot of work on the bike and eating my calories back. I dread to think how many calories I've eaten in the past beacuse I'd thought I'd burnt loads on the bike that day!

ETA I just went to log in it my exercise diary and MFP gave me 123 cals for the same workout.

It is an eye opener that's for sure

SaraTN

Some of the machines are more accurate BUT if the machine doesnt ask gender and age they are generally off by 30-50% -- Just as some heart rate monitors are better than others regarding the calories burned calculation. Mine underestimates my calories burned by about 30% -- I learned this after testing it against a bodybugg. I am going to invest in a bodybugg so I have a more accurate estimate.

bkmush

wow! I don't have a HRM yet and it's not even close to being in the budget, I just go by what MFP says but I try to always be conservative and not eat back all of them (if i'm hungry I eat some - I'm all about balance) but I try to save a few for cushion....this is exactly why.

What a difference though - yikes. I know I don't even glance at the read out from any machine that doesn't even ask me to input my weight or age - like the bikes at my gym.

NoAdditives

Machines are generally off by 10-15% but can vary as much as 30%. Weight bearing machines like treadmills and ellipticals are usually more accurate than bikes.

I haven't had any trouble losing weight going by the machine estimations. But, I've found I need to eat more than other people in order to stop my body from storing fat. So I don't worry about it and I usually eat all my exercise calories too.

BillyLightening

Those machines LIE, grrr it makes me so mad and I don't understand why it's like that. Totally not cool at all. I ordered a heart rate monitor and it should arrive soon, so I'll compare. :grumble:

Kath712

Just got my HRM, so I'm finding the same results. Friday, I did 20 minutes on the elliptical. Machine said 205 calories, HRM said 171. Not too bad, I guess. Today, I did P90. MFP calculated 421 for 49 minutes (circuit training), HRM said 350. I'm glad to finally be going by real numbers!