What's accurate for calories burned?

AnnieSPAJ

In reading other threads it seems a heart rate monitor is the way to go for accurate calories burned. I can get a one of those. Is there any difference in the womens ones or is it just looks? Any recommendations for a good one that's not too expensive?

Until then, what's a good way to tell how many calories I burned. Example: I did the elliptical for 20 minutes today, It told me I burned 185 calories (just starting again, low resistance and ramp) but when I put 20 minutes into mfp it came up 232 calories. I read in another thread that the more you weigh the more calories you burn, so would mfp be more accurate because it knows I'm overweight? I also have the heart rate things on the handles, does that change my calories at all on there or do any good? Or are they just mostly to try to keep me in a healthy range? I've never really used them.

I have a ton of baby weight to lose and I've never counted my calories for weight loss before so I'm kind of new to this, and I don't want to be under eating because my calories burned are way off.