Calorie count on Machines... What if you are tall?

sdrawkcabynot

So I have a question... I have heard that normally the gym equipment calorie estimations can be really off. I have also heard that folks should invest in a watch that counts your calories burned. My issue is - for my height... I am barely over my BMI that makes me fall into the "overweight" category. At 6'4" and 218lbs... I am definitely not obese.

My issue is - when I punch in my age and my weight on the machines at the gym - I am pretty sure it is calculating my totals as if I were a man between 5'7" and 5'11"...

Example (and I am not a firm believer in the BMI scale, but it helps to make my point)

5'10" @ 218lbs = 31.3 BMI... translates to obese by 1.3 points.
6'4" @ 218lbs - 26.5 BMI... translates to overweight by 1.5 points

If the machines are using the average height of people - I think I am getting some screwed up numbers.

If I put in 5'10" and 185lbs it equals 26.5 BMI - good idea to use that for the machines?

Any info is appreciated

mmapags

Don't really know about the how the machines calculate calories but I do have a comment on the BMI. If you are at all muscular and atheletic or large boned and framed it doesn't apply as it will give you a reading of obese or overweight. I have seen comments on the inaccuracy of this by multiple physicians and confirmed by my own highly regarded osteopathic physician. So, don't get too hung up about BMI. Just as a verification, calulate what your weight would be to sit in the middle of the normal BMI range. It may look very low to you. I know for me, it gives me a weight that would make me look frighteningly skinny with little muscle mass.

Quasita

I have issues with it because the women's machines are too small, and even if I use a treadmill, they don't go high enough in height OR weight! Us gigantosauruses have it hard man... I would calculate with online materials, and use the machines to measure distance and time only. Those should be consistent.

sdrawkcabynot

I have issues with it because the women's machines are too small, and even if I use a treadmill, they don't go high enough in height OR weight! Us gigantosauruses have it hard man... I would calculate with online materials, and use the machines to measure distance and time only. Those should be consistent.

Awesome advice. I will have to look into a calculator for giants.

melsinct

Those machines are notoriously inaccurate. The only way to get a true number is to buy a heart rate monitor for yourself.

ChristineMarie89

a HRM with a chest strap would be your best bet the watch type do not work

sdrawkcabynot

a HRM with a chest strap would be your best bet the watch type do not work

Geeze - i didn't realize the chest ones were so freaking expensive... to bad you can just tape a smart phone to your chest. I mean they do everything else! lol.

mmapags

FWIW, I just got the Timex Ironman from Amazon for about $60 used and in great condition. It does heart rate, calories, chrono which is all I need. Easy to use and a whole lot better than depending on the questionable data coming from the machines at the gym. It gets great reviews and is generally reated the best in it's price range. It has a chest strap that sends a wireless signal to the watch. Surpisingly comfortable. I forget it's there after a few minutes.

sdrawkcabynot

FWIW, I just got the Timex Ironman from Amazon for about $60 used and in great condition. It does heart rate, calories, chrono which is all I need. Easy to use and a whole lot better than depending on the questionable data coming from the machines at the gym. It gets great reviews and is generally reated the best in it's price range. It has a chest strap that sends a wireless signal to the watch. Surpisingly comfortable. I forget it's there after a few minutes.

Timex Ironman... I am on it!

StarvingDiva

I would invest in a heart rate monitor and watch. I bought mine from http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/ and they have pretty good prices.