Question about calories for things not listed

tiggerbounce411

I see a lot of people listing calories burned for such and such. How do you get that number when there isn't a listing in MFP database for a particular exercise? I would like to add some things I am doing, but there isn't a listing for it so I can't. Any help is greatly appreciated!

LittleFootHafner

I always put the reading off of my Heart Rate Monitor...

H_Factor

2 ways: either try to pigeon hole the exercise into the MFP listed exercise that most closely fits or, preferably, get a heart rate monitor with a chest strap.

notably, as long as you're using the MFP estimates, understand that those estimates are jacked up for most folks. Assume that they are 30-50% higher than what you are actually burning so you don't eat too many calories.

summary: get a HRM.

wildkatt7

there is a national database of exercises... once you find them you can enter them into MFP... usually I just find the closest thing... like for instance I do aerobic weight lifting... there isn't an entry for it... so I enter aerobis light for half the time and weight training for the other half... I may have burned as many as the full aerobic for the whole thing, but feel anaverage on the conservative side is better in the long run... I never add all the calories I burn (for instance you burn calories for typing and writing, like 3 a minute, but I look at that as part of life)...
hope that helps

dls06

If you go to exercise and just click search without adding anything to the search box you get all they have .

JeffJohnson26

Are you using a HRM? I use mine when doing cardio and when lifting to get a more accurate reading of how many calories I burn. I noticed that the MFP listings are close, but not always spot on. I bought a pretty decent Sportline HRM at Wal-mart for about $30. It keeps track of my heart rate, calories burned and time. There are much better models out there, but this one is simple and effective. I would suggest using a HRM over what a machine in the gym or MFP tells you.

shivaslives

Heart rate monitor is definitely the way to for the most accurate count. I use mine to adjust my burn from the default values of the activites that are in the database. For example, I find that the approximate Elliptical burn is too high and the Strength Training burn is too low. With the HRM, I'm able to get a better sense of what I personally burn. That being said, they are all approximations and you're always safest going with the most conservative estimate.

tiggerbounce411

Thank you all so much for your help, I do appreciate it. I don't add everyday things, ONLY what I am doing to workout. And I don't eat my calories back, why workout if I am going to eat what I just burned. Seems to work for the past month. I will look at HRM and see about getting one with a chest strap as suggested. If I am going to do this, i want to do it right.