Machine #'s vs. MFP

awandell

Still new at this, and I'm confused. I want my workout calories to be accurate so I know how much I need to be consuming, but I can't figure out which is right. MFP today told me my workout calories are 184 while my machine read 330. Which is it? I would think it's the larger number since I am still carrying extra weight (about 60 lbs to lose), but I'm not sure! I did check my HR on the machine about 8 times throughout the workout and have dreams of someday getting a heart rate monitor so this won't be a problemn in the distant future, but they're too expensive to get today. Can you help a girl out?

714rah714

I would just average the two numbers

ajz2010

Still new at this, and I'm confused. I want my workout calories to be accurate so I know how much I need to be consuming, but I can't figure out which is right. MFP today told me my workout calories are 184 while my machine read 330. Which is it? I would think it's the larger number since I am still carrying extra weight (about 60 lbs to lose), but I'm not sure! I did check my HR on the machine about 8 times throughout the workout and have dreams of someday getting a heart rate monitor so this won't be a problemn in the distant future, but they're too expensive to get today. Can you help a girl out?

I have heard to take what the machine says and multiply that by 70%. It's not science, and probably not 100% accurate, but pretty close I bet. MFP figures it on your height and weight and I'm not sure if your machine does. Also, my husband just bought a heart rate monitor at Walmart for $40. Not too expensive and totally worth the investment! Hope this helps. Good luck!

wowsley2

I have a similar question, but I'm coming at it from the other end. MFP says I burn significantly more calories than the machine does when I enter my age and weight.

For instance, if I enter "Eliptical Trainer - 60 minutes" into MFP, it outputs a calorie burn of almost 1,300 calories for me.

The readout on the machine at the gym (for which I enter weight), gives out 1,000 calories.

I always enter the machine's reading into MFP, overriding what MFP autofills. I figure if I base my eating off the more conservative number, then I'm erring on the side of caution.

However, sometimes I get exercise not from a machine. So, if I go for a one hour walk at 3.0 mph, should I also adjust down the calorie output MFP gives me for that?

Also, is there any way I can figure out caloric burn without a machine? Is that what a heart rate monitor does?

awandell

For that particular workout (walking dog at 3.0mph), my machine still reads a higher calories burned than MFP. I was doing that one on the treadmill. It does make sense to go with the more conservative number, but I know if I get it right then there will be less chance of starving my body of needed calories and more success on this journey.

I also didn't realize that MFP uses your weight and height to determine calorie count. I don't think my treadmill does that (it's an older one.)

RosieWest8

I only have a treadmill at home and it doesn’t let you input your height/weight before you start your workout (some of them do, and encourage you to take your heart rate during the workout so it can give you an accurate-ish measurement of calories burned).

So, even without knowing my height/weight….my treadmill’s calories burned was more accurate than MFP. MFP was underestimating the calories I burned (but for some activities I’ve seen it way overestimate too). I have a Polar HRM…I think I paid between 35-40 dollars for it. It doesn’t calculate my calories burned but it at least keeps track of my average heart rate for the duration of my workout.
I then, generally, use this website to just put in my info and get an estimate of my calories burned:
http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

I found a mathematical calculation of calories burned based on HR…and I actually took the time to do it to check if this website was right and it was right on…so it’s gotta be at least in the ballpark of accurate-ish. So, since you don’t have a HRM just keep checking your heart rate throughout your workout so you have an idea of what it was for your workout. Then use that website.

awandell

Thanks Rosie. Will check that out!