MFP fitness database vs Gym Equipment

killingtheantagonist

Okay, so I'm a little confused, so bare with me through this.
At my gym on the electrical equipment(treadmill,stationary bike, elliptical) they have digital panels, in which you can customize your weight, age, max resistance level, and your workout.
They also have the HRM handgrips, so it's more accurate with your calorie burn.
The thing is when I get on MFP to log my time and workout, the calorie burn up here says I've done half that of machine at the gym said.

So the question is, should I use MFP estimation or the gyms estimation?

ShrinkingNinja

When setting a custom exercise into MFP I plugged in the calories burned via my heart rate monitor. The next time I did that exercise it was using the figures from when I first entered it.

I would be leery of using the figures here... Who knows where the initial set up came from. I would recommend a heart rate monitor so that you can get a more custom calorie expenditure for yourself and then just self add the workout.

Bubs05

The gym equipment that has the handgrips does measure your heart rate however, it does not use your heart rate in the calculation of calories burned. I got this info from a friend who sells said gym equipment.
So, in reality, the only truly accurate way of getting your calories burned is to use your own HRM with a chest strap.

MissSharkattack

When in doubt, go with the lower number.
However, I would suggest getting a HRM with a chest strap.

killingtheantagonist

Hmm, alright.
Thanks for you guys help.
Now I just need to find a good, cheap HRM.
I have no income, so this shall be fun.