Does MFP take weight into account?

Giantess

I have been jogging a lot, and tracking a friend's jogging as well. (Hi, Alise! :flowerforyou: ) She runs longer and faster than I can currently dream of, and yet she burns on average 200-300 calories less than I do.

Does MFP calculate for the fact that I'm much heavier and taller than she is? It's the only thing I can think of that accounts for the strange phenomenon. If so, I can only assume that as I lose weight I'll be needing to work harder to burn as much as I am now. Then again, my calorie needs will go down, so maybe that's how that works?

Confirmations? Opinions?

brittany33107

The more you weigh, the more calories you burn off exercising and just in general. That's why the less you weigh, the slower your weight loss will become

Lleldiranne

Yes. I'll do something with my husband, same activity, same time, and MFP says he burns something like 100 calories more than I do (he also weighs almost 100 lbs more than I do). Aargh! lol

Photoology

The amount of calories burned on a jog does depend on your body. Even if someone runs longer, if their weight is less or have a different muscle structure, there is a chance they burn less. MFP does take into consideration your weight but also, it may be off as it takes an average of that weight and doesn't actually take into consideration individuals... obviously that is hard as you do need to generalize for the masses.

As you lose weight, you will have to work harder, but its totally worth it and your body will welcome it. Don't worry too much about it and remember you are burning for you and she is burning for her...

abellante_0205

MFP's numbers are not that accurate. Invest in a HRM. I don't have one but I have friends on here who have one and say that the HRM has very different numbers than MFP

Artemis_Acorn

That is exactly right. When you're heavier, it's like walking with weights on. More intense.

And as you lose weight, your BMR drops, so your calorie allowance drops too. I figure as I lose weight, I'll just have to be more active, exercise with more intensity or for longer etc.

leomom72

The more you weigh, the more calories you burn off exercising and just in general. That's why the less you weigh, the slower your weight loss will become

agree !! i was burning close to 500 cals a day when i first started @ 180 lbs..now @ 141 lbs, i burn about 300-350 for the same stuff

alise_lmx

hi! :drinker: You know, I think i get your question now. Because in the database I would guess that we all see the same exercises, right? Maybe it adjusts it once you choose that exercise and they have like a formula when you enter it in your log? hmm. now i'm just all confused. But most people here on mfp say that a heart rate monitor is the most accurate way to measure calories burned, I'm thinking of getting one myself.

catwrangler

If you google "calories burned" you will get tons of calculators to help you figure out what you have burned and they all ask how much you weigh. Some ask even more information.