Do you know how much you burn?

goodasgoldilox165

Swimming up and down today, I was wondering how certain I could be about the number of calories my body was burning. I get that the calories in food are measurable and could believe that the values we have for them are fairly accurate. However, I'm much less certain that the calories we burn after eating those foods can be measured so easily. Bodies vary so much - not just in height/weight/density/age/gender but probably also in their efficiency when burning food. Our cars vary in their fuel consumption - even if they are the same make/model. My thought is that MFP and HRM estimates of calories burned should be treated with caution - as guides rather than 'the one true figure'. If you are not losing weight as fast as you expect- it could just be that you are more efficient than other bodies and need less fuel for each mile.

SteveTries

You're not going to get a true figure without some high tech kit and laboratory conditions.

Plently of resources online will provide you with an estimate based of averages and samples etc. These seem to tend to be on the high side in the main, though often better than gym equiptment, the manufacturers of which have a vested interest in over-egging caloric burnn.

Heart rate monitors seem to get closed since they at least apply their algorithms based on your actual heart rate, but it still won't be spot on.

Of course it's only one side of the equation and you mention the other side in your post "calories in food are measurable"; well the rules governing nutritional labels allow them to be +/-20% since it;s impossible for the seller to get exactly the same consituents every single time.

So in summary, it's all just a guide and we shouldn't get too preoccupied with getting down to single digit accuracy. Likely as not we are a couple hundred out each day......

DaleRunning

I agree with you that the exact number of calories you burn exercising is in accurate. I tend not to get too excited about the number of calories and try not to eat back all of them to be on the safe side, well most days! I can usually judge it was a good workout by how much I am sweating and use that to decide if I have put in enough effort. The numbers are a guide not an exact blue print. How you feel and your results are what counts!