Gardening - really?!?!?!

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  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
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    Take the estimations from MFP with a grain of salt. I generally cut the calories in half but that's still just a guestimation in my book.
  • martinel2099
    martinel2099 Posts: 899 Member
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    Personally, I tend to only record exercises where I have access to a heart rate monitor to make sure I'm at a decent intensity.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
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    So I did an hour and a half of gardening on Saturday, and MFP said I burned 418 calories.

    I just didnt' believe it, so to be safe I cut it in half. That doesn't seem possible.

    Would a HRM be accurate while gardening?

    No, no, noooooo......

    MFP WAY overestimates calories burned.

    A heart rate monitor is great at calculating steady state cardio, but not things like gardening or weight lifting or something that is not steady state.

    Personally, I would not record the gardening calorie wise, but if you choose to do so I'd suggest cutting those calories at least in half and calling it a day.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
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    As for the treadmill, eliptical etc. The trainer at my gym says that the machines are too low.
    I'm afraid the trainer is incorrect.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    No, HRMs will not be accurate for gardening. Their calorie estimation formula is based on steady state cardio activity, gardening is not. You will get an inflated burn.
  • LessHeavyVeggie
    LessHeavyVeggie Posts: 208 Member
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    "Gardening" is a pretty broad term.

    It encompasses everything from tilling top soil and carrying bags of mulch to planting flowers around the borders of the yard.

    A HRM would give you a better picture of what you are burning.

    ^ this. I guess it depends on what gardening involves for you!
  • fequick
    fequick Posts: 16
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    LOL, me too!

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