who to believe MFP or pedometor?

kikina

So i've been analizing why i gained 0.7 lbs last week and everybody suggested i eat more so i was going to do that (it is a very scary thought) but i just got back from 4.71mi walk and when i logged in to MFP it took me 1:20 min it says i burned less than my calculations from my pedometor.. MFP says i burned 502 and pedometor says 626...

it may not be alot of difference but i always figure out my steps and convert it to what comes close on MFP since MFP is always lower than what peodmetor says .. soooo WHO DO I BELIEVE? and if thats the case maybe i have been eating too much already because maybe i'm accounting for more caloires burned that what MFP says

any thoughts on this.. My peodmetor is attached at my waist all the time and it is a WW one that i really like as i have had many in the past tht fall off and are not secure.

HeartME511healthy

I would go with the Pedometor, it is more direct since it is on your person. It captured your steps and everything else. I think the MFP, is an average and it is close enough I use three different devise and as long as it is close enough I go with my FitBit since it is on my person, and then I log the burned calories in MFP, and if there is any discrepencies then FB will either adjust up or down. Either way use what is actually on your person.

Try to see if your devise allows you to connect with MFP. Keep up the good work though you are doing a great thing.

GibsonDarlin

I did the first half of my journey - with the machines and MFP calorie counts.. I lost 40 lbs.
I never ate back all my calories, I always left about 200 calories uneaten for the variance in food and exercise totals.

I got a Heart Rate Monitor after Christmas, and I wasn't surprised, had been seeing threads that say MFP and machines are too high). My heart rate monitor was 35% less than the machines.

I still leave a variance, unless its a cheat day!

vichm

I have a rate monitor watch that when purchased was set on on my heart rate and tracks this when i workout. I find this differs to mfp calculations for workouts and always gives me a higher number of calories worked off but I think it is more acurate. I have checked it against gym machines so when i've finished 20mins etc i check to see if it matches and there is never a big difference (been 14calories... never more than 32) Therefore I go by my counter, mfp is a guide and can vary as calories burnt off do depend on each persons motabilism/ size as everyone will burn off calories at different rates. Im sure you will be fine going by your pedometer. x

darlilama

If you really want an accurate count, get a good heart rate monitor (one with a chest strap). MFP is obviously only able to give an average/estimate. I'm really not sure about pedometers, but I can't see that they could give you more than an average, either. A HRM is actually tracking YOUR body's effort. Maybe still not perfect, but certainly closer.

A lot of people using HRMs say that MFP was over-estimating their calorie burn. In my case, many times it was under-estimating what I burned when compared to my HRM. Lucky me, I guess.

vsheeler

Early on, I learned that most fitness programs and machines take an average of calories burned and may not adjust for your hear rate, weight, and age.

When I got my heart rate monitor, I noticed I burned more calories than MFP on some exercises, and less on others. I always burn 30-50% less calories than on most exercise machines, depending on intesity level.

If you can afford one, I suggest investing in a good heart rate monitor, but before you buy, look at reviews to see which ones are the most accurate and are liked/disliked by other people. I have a POLAR HRM and absolutely love it.

jenseye

I used MFP's calculations when I started last year, but last summer I got a HRM and there was quite a difference from MFP's numbers vs. the HRM. (HRM showed I was burning more calories than MFP calculated).
I have read many threads on here and there are all different stories and opinions because to be honest everyone is different.
I would say go with the pedometer because it's on your moving body.
Good Luck and keep up the good work!