Is MyFitnessPal lying to me?

laura97z
laura97z Posts: 18
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello! So I just spent 20 minutes on a stationary bike, staying consistently around 17-20 mph (about 6 miles if I remember correctly...) So when I went to add it to my exercise (Bicycling, 16-20 mph, very fast (cycling, biking, bike riding)) mfp tells me I burned 238 calories. I was just wondering whether anyone knows whether this is accurate. I am 5"4' and about 130 lbs. It wasn't all that strenuous (although the resistance was set to 10), so I can't imagine I burned that many calories. Thoughts?

Replies

  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Hello! So I just spent 20 minutes on a stationary bike, staying consistently around 17-20 mph (about 6 miles if I remember correctly...) So when I went to add it to my exercise (Bicycling, 16-20 mph, very fast (cycling, biking, bike riding)) mfp tells me I burned 238 calories. I was just wondering whether anyone knows whether this is accurate. I am 5"4' and about 130 lbs. It wasn't all that strenuous (although the resistance was set to 10), so I can't imagine I burned that many calories. Thoughts?

    I read an article where riding a stationary bike burns loads of calories...but you're pretty small, so that sounds a little high.

    Google other sources and then take an average. Many MFP "guesstimates" are high...others are deemed pretty close.

    The best estimate for steady state cardio is going to be a heart rate monitor (chest strap model). It allows you to plug in height, weight, age, gender....and then compares your resting heart rate against your heart rate while working out. The difference in heart rates is used as your exertion level.

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