Do we overestimate our exercise calories and underestimate c

rajivdubey

I guess we tend to overestimate our exercise calories and underestimate the calories we eat! While calories we eat depend on the portion we eat and the number of 'grams' consumed, which is a guess-estimate and exercise calories would be over-estimated on optimum performance.

Hence, in my view if someone wants to lose weight, its advisable to have consumption in 1200 Calories range so that any exercise calorie will quicken the process of weight loss.

Comments please!

Lyadeia

I think most people overestimate calories burned, and this is in part due to HRMs giving overestimations without proper calculation. I scratch my head when I see someone posting that they have burned nearly 1000 calories in just 45 minutes of working out doing the same thing that causes me to burn closer to 300 calories busting my rear...

That's why I don't even record exercise calories anymore. I have so much more results when I eat a certain amount between my BMR and TDEE and remember to workout. That's what I did before MFP, that's what's working again for me. Last year doing it MFP's way of calculating everything, I netted a zero pound loss/gain. I blame it on incorrect exercise calorie calculations and eating back too many of those.

Lift_hard_eat_big

I guess we tend to overestimate our exercise calories and underestimate the calories we eat! While calories we eat depend on the portion we eat and the number of 'grams' consumed, which is a guess-estimate and exercise calories would be over-estimated on optimum performance.

Hence, in my view if someone wants to lose weight, its advisable to have consumption in 1200 Calories range so that any exercise calorie will quicken the process of weight loss.

Comments please!

That's what I feel happens to many people. They don't ACCURATELY measure their coloric intake, just guestimate portions and servings, overestimate their TDEE, then whine and cry why they aren't losing weight. Well perhaps it's cause you're at MAINTENANCE. Unless you have a medical condition which causes you not to lose weight at a deficit, you should lose weight at a deficit after a short period of time. People who claim to have stalled weight loss for weeks even months and continue doing the same thing, to me, that's the characteristic of a lunatic. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, that just blows my mind.

Alee4nia

the amount of calories you burn also depends on how much you weigh...so others may burn more or less depending on how much they weigh....my elliptical always asks how much i weigh.

Lift_hard_eat_big

I think most people overestimate calories burned, and this is in part due to HRMs giving overestimations without proper calculation. I scratch my head when I see someone posting that they have burned nearly 1000 calories in just 45 minutes of working out doing the same thing that causes me to burn closer to 300 calories busting my rear...

That's why I don't even record exercise calories anymore. I have so much more results when I eat a certain amount between my BMR and TDEE and remember to workout. That's what I did before MFP, that's what's working again for me. Last year doing it MFP's way of calculating everything, I netted a zero pound loss/gain. I blame it on incorrect exercise calorie calculations and eating back too many of those.

How did you calculate your 300 kcal burn?

ejohndrow

I work out about 2 hrs a day or more. I always count the cardio I do in my exercise log on here as my exercise calories, this gives me anywhere from 300-800 or more a day. I never count the strength training, kickboxing, or calisthenics I do. In addition I don't count my, near daily, 3.5 miles roundtrip walk to the store and back. I've recently gone back to eating real food once again, and I still only eat (on average) around 1200 calories a day.

This works for me, and I've been losing weight on a diet I can maintain, and when I say diet I mean the food I eat to live-not the act of depriving myself nutrition.

So,in conclusion, I too feel we overestimate one and underestimate the other, I try and account for this.


Also, I've noticed that some people treat calories like they do money in the bank. "I exercised 250 calories off today so I can still eat a candy bar and be within my calories."
...you could always just not eat the candy bar...

rajivdubey

I think most people overestimate calories burned, and this is in part due to HRMs giving overestimations without proper calculation. I scratch my head when I see someone posting that they have burned nearly 1000 calories in just 45 minutes of working out doing the same thing that causes me to burn closer to 300 calories busting my rear...

That's why I don't even record exercise calories anymore. I have so much more results when I eat a certain amount between my BMR and TDEE and remember to workout. That's what I did before MFP, that's what's working again for me. Last year doing it MFP's way of calculating everything, I netted a zero pound loss/gain. I blame it on incorrect exercise calorie calculations and eating back too many of those.

Great to see someone working on 12% Body Fat! Wow! I am inspired!

Keep up the good work!

rajivdubey

rajivdubey

I work out about 2 hrs a day or more. I always count the cardio I do in my exercise log on here as my exercise calories, this gives me anywhere from 300-800 or more a day. I never count the strength training, kickboxing, or calisthenics I do. In addition I don't count my, near daily, 3.5 miles roundtrip walk to the store and back. I've recently gone back to eating real food once again, and I still only eat (on average) around 1200 calories a day.

This works for me, and I've been losing weight on a diet I can maintain, and when I say diet I mean the food I eat to live-not the act of depriving myself nutrition.

So,in conclusion, I too feel we overestimate one and underestimate the other, I try and account for this.


Also, I've noticed that some people treat calories like they do money in the bank. "I exercised 250 calories off today so I can still eat a candy bar and be within my calories."
...you could always just not eat the candy bar...

Agree! "Reward Eating" is a killer!

Lyadeia

I think most people overestimate calories burned, and this is in part due to HRMs giving overestimations without proper calculation. I scratch my head when I see someone posting that they have burned nearly 1000 calories in just 45 minutes of working out doing the same thing that causes me to burn closer to 300 calories busting my rear...

That's why I don't even record exercise calories anymore. I have so much more results when I eat a certain amount between my BMR and TDEE and remember to workout. That's what I did before MFP, that's what's working again for me. Last year doing it MFP's way of calculating everything, I netted a zero pound loss/gain. I blame it on incorrect exercise calorie calculations and eating back too many of those.

How did you calculate your 300 kcal burn?

I have 2 different HRMs, but they give around the same calorie burn for me for certain workouts. They are different by about 50 cals. or so. I don't use them anymore, though. The battery went dead in one, and the other, the chest strap is MIA since moving to my new house.

AZTrailRunner

Why are you assuming "most people" overestimate calories burned or underestimate calories consumed?

FitnessDynasty

I'm completely the opposite. I always overestimate the calories I eat even though I track them RELIGIOUSLY! Just put in my dinner and grabbed all the packages and made sure everything was correct in my log. I even measure out any condiments I use. I'm very religious on tracking them, even if I overestimate calorie intake.

When I work out I always throw in my weight on the cardio machines and what not. MFP always gives me more calories burned than the machine tells me. I always use the lower of the calories burned, not the higher.

I believe it is all preference but you do yourself no favors doing it the other way: overestimating exercise calories and underestimating eating calories. I think you actual hurt yourself because when you don't reach your goal you get discouraged. Doing it the opposite (underestimate exercise calories and overestimate eating calories) will be better for you in reaching your weight lose goal. Just my opinion.

rajivdubey

Why are you assuming "most people" overestimate calories burned or underestimate calories consumed?

I would assume that from what people write. "Most People" could probably be rephrased as "Lots of people".

Fiyero

Currently I am trusting the calories burned figures I get from my equipment but would not do so if I wasn't achieving my goals. I find that if I restrict to 1200 cals, I don't have the energy to put in the effort required for a hard interval session.

Definitely an interesting thread though. I had assumed one should eat most of their exercise calories to prevent muscle loss but perhaps I will play with that a little.

ejohndrow

I'm completely the opposite. I always overestimate the calories I eat even though I track them RELIGIOUSLY! Just put in my dinner and grabbed all the packages and made sure everything was correct in my log. I even measure out any condiments I use. I'm very religious on tracking them, even if I overestimate calorie intake.

When I work out I always throw in my weight on the cardio machines and what not. MFP always gives me more calories burned than the machine tells me. I always use the lower of the calories burned, not the higher.

I believe it is all preference but you do yourself no favors doing it the other way: overestimating exercise calories and underestimating eating calories. I think you actual hurt yourself because when you don't reach your goal you get discouraged. Doing it the opposite (underestimate exercise calories and overestimate eating calories) will be better for you in reaching your weight lose goal. Just my opinion.

Personally my goal is to be a weight the Navy accepts as 'ok', after that it's to be healthy and toned. Personally 1100-about 1500 calories is good for me, it's filling, I don't feel tired from it etc.
I guess in this neverending battle you just have to 'do you' as they say.

FitnessDynasty

Currently I am trusting the calories burned figures I get from my equipment but would not do so if I wasn't achieving my goals. I find that if I restrict to 1200 cals, I don't have the energy to put in the effort required for a hard interval session.

Definitely an interesting thread though. I had assumed one should eat most of their exercise calories to prevent muscle loss but perhaps I will play with that a little.

I was restricting myself to MFP's recommendation of 1420 calories per day. I asked individuals if I should eat my exercise calories (usually around 1900 calories/day after working out) and they said it is healthier to do so. I confirmed that with my brother who does physical therapy and personal training and he agreed.

Pebble321

All of our food and exercise calories are estimates - some will be under, some will be over.

Using your rationale to justify everyone eating 1200 calories sounds dangerous to me. I truly believe that most people can be healthy AND lose weight eating considerably more than 1200 cals. I'm a case in point - I've lost nearly 50 pounds eating 1500 -1600 net cals a day (so that means on long run days I might eat 2400 cals - double your suggestion of 1200). If I tried to stick to 1200 I would have given up in about 3 days ands would still be fat instead of being within 1/2 a kg of my goal weight.

And I don't see the issue with "reward eating"? If I exercise my body needs more energy. Sometimes most of my food comes from unprocessed healthy foods, other times I eat chocolate and cake and drink wine.
If I've worked hard i have more wiggle room in my diay to fit in those treats, I'm not sure why you see this as a problem.

kennethmgreen

All of our food and exercise calories are estimates - some will be under, some will be over.

Using your rationale to justify everyone eating 1200 calories sounds dangerous to me. I truly believe that most people can be healthy AND lose weight eating considerably more than 1200 cals. I'm a case in point - I've lost nearly 50 pounds eating 1500 -1600 net cals a day (so that means on long run days I might eat 2400 cals - double your suggestion of 1200). If I tried to stick to 1200 I would have given up in about 3 days ands would still be fat instead of being within 1/2 a kg of my goal weight.

And I don't see the issue with "reward eating"? If I exercise my body needs more energy. Sometimes most of my food comes from unprocessed healthy foods, other times I eat chocolate and cake and drink wine.
If I've worked hard i have more wiggle room in my diay to fit in those treats, I'm not sure why you see this as a problem.

Thank you for posting this. And congrats on your weight loss. Way to go!

I think we like to feel "our way" is the "best way" - because if another method makes more sense, that might mean I'm not doing it the best/the longest/the most/the hardest/etc. I am naturally most critical of choices that are most unlike my own choices.

I'm not really sure why it seems so difficult for people to understand that the human body (and human psyche) doesn't always follow exact methodology. What works for some people doesn't work for others. What works great for some people may not work very well for others. Of course there is some science that is inescapable truth: weight loss requires calorie deficit. But how each of us arrives at that inescapable truth is a mixed bag. One method is not best for all people. It's just really easy to think so.

Pebble321

Thanks Kenneth, and I agree that everyone has to find the way that is best for them.
Although I will of course continue to think that my way is right.... but I'm willing to accept that other people just might be right too

TheBraveryLover

All of our food and exercise calories are estimates - some will be under, some will be over.

Using your rationale to justify everyone eating 1200 calories sounds dangerous to me. I truly believe that most people can be healthy AND lose weight eating considerably more than 1200 cals. I'm a case in point - I've lost nearly 50 pounds eating 1500 -1600 net cals a day (so that means on long run days I might eat 2400 cals - double your suggestion of 1200). If I tried to stick to 1200 I would have given up in about 3 days ands would still be fat instead of being within 1/2 a kg of my goal weight.

And I don't see the issue with "reward eating"? If I exercise my body needs more energy. Sometimes most of my food comes from unprocessed healthy foods, other times I eat chocolate and cake and drink wine.
If I've worked hard i have more wiggle room in my diay to fit in those treats, I'm not sure why you see this as a problem.

Agreed with, literally, everything you wrote.

FitnessDynasty

Personally my goal is to be a weight the Navy accepts as 'ok', after that it's to be healthy and toned. Personally 1100-about 1500 calories is good for me, it's filling, I don't feel tired from it etc.
I guess in this neverending battle you just have to 'do you' as they say.

I'm currently 210 and at 24% body fat. That is within limits for the US Armed Forces as well for someone that is 26, 5'8", and no prior service. I'm taking the ASVAB today (Wednesday) and hope to get to MEPS soon to sign my contract. According to my recruiter I'd ship sometime in Feb-Mar and I hope to be under the maximum allowed of 181 by then. Then hopefully lose another 10 pounds at BCT to weight in at 171 by May-June 2012, if not less. I haven't been 171 since 2007!

ejohndrow

Personally my goal is to be a weight the Navy accepts as 'ok', after that it's to be healthy and toned. Personally 1100-about 1500 calories is good for me, it's filling, I don't feel tired from it etc.
I guess in this neverending battle you just have to 'do you' as they say.

I'm currently 210 and at 24% body fat. That is within limits for the US Armed Forces as well for someone that is 26, 5'8", and no prior service. I'm taking the ASVAB today (Wednesday) and hope to get to MEPS soon to sign my contract. According to my recruiter I'd ship sometime in Feb-Mar and I hope to be under the maximum allowed of 181 by then. Then hopefully lose another 10 pounds at BCT to weight in at 171 by May-June 2012, if not less. I haven't been 171 since 2007!

Army perhaps, but for the Navy males can't have over 22% body fat and females 33%.
I pass the body fat%, I just want to be under the weight, I'm about 6lbs off at this point. I'm not worried about it. Since actually eating healthy food and exercising it's come right off, kind of like when I ate healthy and exercised years ago. Good luck with the asvab, and have fun at MEPs. That really is a long obnoxious day.

FitnessDynasty

Personally my goal is to be a weight the Navy accepts as 'ok', after that it's to be healthy and toned. Personally 1100-about 1500 calories is good for me, it's filling, I don't feel tired from it etc.
I guess in this neverending battle you just have to 'do you' as they say.

I'm currently 210 and at 24% body fat. That is within limits for the US Armed Forces as well for someone that is 26, 5'8", and no prior service. I'm taking the ASVAB today (Wednesday) and hope to get to MEPS soon to sign my contract. According to my recruiter I'd ship sometime in Feb-Mar and I hope to be under the maximum allowed of 181 by then. Then hopefully lose another 10 pounds at BCT to weight in at 171 by May-June 2012, if not less. I haven't been 171 since 2007!

Army perhaps, but for the Navy males can't have over 22% body fat and females 33%.
I pass the body fat%, I just want to be under the weight, I'm about 6lbs off at this point. I'm not worried about it. Since actually eating healthy food and exercising it's come right off, kind of like when I ate healthy and exercised years ago. Good luck with the asvab, and have fun at MEPs. That really is a long obnoxious day.

I thought it was a maximum of 21% but when I talked with my recruiter he said for my age and height with no prior service it can be a maximum of 26% body fat. But getting down to 200 pounds, according to my personal trainer, I'll hit that 21% so I'm not too worried about it. MEPS... Yeah, can't wait... *sarcasm*