I hardly burn any calories!

shaycat

I feel like I am getting in a good workout. I am all sweaty and tired. I look at my HRM after and 140 calories? Really for a 30 minute workout DVD? Or 135 for 20 minutes of elliptical. 60 for 10 minutes on the treadmill.
Only 270 for an hour of Insanity! What is up with this?
I wonder if my TDEE is lower since I don't burn that many calories when trying?

SabKab16

Ok, this may not be what you want to hear..... Or maybe no one else will agree with me..... lol... But, who cares about the calorie number on the hrm?

I refuse to even acknowledge that number... esp on treadmills / stairclimbers / ellipticals (when I used to do them)

The only number I care about is the number of calories i take IN, once a week weigh in on the scale, and my measurements. Other than that, I just work as hard as possible during my workouts. I feel like it REALLY helps to just focus on those things when it comes to weight loss.

Eat healthy, keep your caloric goal in mind, kill your workouts.... and once a week track your progress. If your weight keeps decreasing, you notice that your clothes are fitting differently, and over time you are losing inches... you know you're doing it right.
Try it for a week or two, maybe you'll like it better?

I am now 143... My highest weight was 165! Not once during my weight loss did I ever care about any peice of equipment that told me how many calories I've burned. What did motivate me was getting on that scale EVERY morning, and seeing a drop in weight once every 3-4 days.... (may not be for everyone)

Hope I've sort of helped

shaycat

Thank you it would be nice. I think if I did that I would have to lower my calorie goal and then I would be to hungry.
I guess I shouldn't worry about it so much. I just feel like I work so hard to burn 100 calories, but can't even have a snack for less than that.

Glucocorticoid

Ok, this may not be what you want to hear..... Or maybe no one else will agree with me..... lol... But, who cares about the calorie number on the hrm?

I refuse to even acknowledge that number... esp on treadmills / stairclimbers / ellipticals (when I used to do them)

The only number I care about is the number of calories i take IN, once a week weigh in on the scale, and my measurements. Other than that, I just work as hard as possible during my workouts. I feel like it REALLY helps to just focus on those things when it comes to weight loss.

Eat healthy, keep your caloric goal in mind, kill your workouts.... and once a week track your progress. If your weight keeps decreasing, you notice that your clothes are fitting differently, and over time you are losing inches... you know you're doing it right.
Try it for a week or two, maybe you'll like it better?

I am now 143... My highest weight was 165! Not once during my weight loss did I ever care about any peice of equipment that told me how many calories I've burned. What did motivate me was getting on that scale EVERY morning, and seeing a drop in weight once every 3-4 days.... (may not be for everyone)

Hope I've sort of helped

^ What she said.

Don't over-complicate things. Figure out your maintenance intake. Set a 10-20% deficit. Eat 1g/protein, 30-50g fat, the rest is carbs. You'll lose weight without the hassle of counting exercise calories.

To figure out maintenance, go here. http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat-loss/how-to-estimate-maintenance-caloric-intake.html

Captain_Tightpants

Are you small and/or close to normal weight anyway? If so then that's probably the reason... takes less effort to move a smaller vehicle.

If you're not, then HRM could be wrong. Recheck initial settings or buy a Polar FT7.

shaycat

I am smallish and for the most part at my goal weight. I have the Polar FT4. I think it is probably right.
I just wonder if my maintenance calories may be lower than I think.

Quickster34

burning calories is difficult.. it is supposed to be.. its converting energy. which is why i have to laugh at some of these exercises on here that tell you you burn way more calories than you actually do, 30 min of intense sprinting will leave me at and avg HR of around 150 which will burn about 300 cal for me, thats for full level sprint repeats at about 85% with minimal rest. so yup it takes work to burn

SabKab16

log on to teambeachbody.com I've figured out all my maintenance and goals and stuff through there..

adamb83

270 for an hour of Insanity does sound low, but your #'s for the treadmill and elliptical sound right to me.

chachadiva150

I am smallish and for the most part at my goal weight. I have the Polar FT4. I think it is probably right.
I just wonder if my maintenance calories may be lower than I think.

If you're at your goal weight and have been exercising for a while, your body has gotten efficient at exercise. Your heart has gotten stronger. You will have to change the intensity of your workouts to get a higher calorie burn.

Sweating is only an indicator of your body getting hot. It's not an indicator of exertion. You can sweat standing still.

jumpin15

bump

thelovelyLIZ

If you're on the small side, you're going to burn less calories anyway. I'm 5'4" and 125lbs and I can't burn more than about 250 in 30 minutes.

It may also be your body has adapted so it might be time to shake things up. Try something new?

coopersmom2006

I am smallish and for the most part at my goal weight. I have the Polar FT4. I think it is probably right.
I just wonder if my maintenance calories may be lower than I think.

If you're at your goal weight and have been exercising for a while, your body has gotten efficient at exercise. Your heart has gotten stronger. You will have to change the intensity of your workouts to get a higher calorie burn.

Sweating is only an indicator of your body getting hot. It's not an indicator of exertion. You can sweat standing still.

This... and I'm right there with you! I get really annoyed when I see the elliptical say I've burned 450 calories but then my HRM says it was only 350. Yeah, I know the machines are off (which is why I got a HRM in the first place) but it still frustrates me. I guess I should actually be happy that my body is now an efficient machine huh?

fee2dancesing

You're not by yourself. Just kill your workouts and eat a balanced meal, and the rest will take care of itself.

Toddrific

Someone made this thread, I can't verify its accuracy

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/548645-setup-polar-hrm-for-more-accurate-calorie-burn-for-known-bmr

xdaysbingefree

I agree with what people said about not overcomplicating things. Don't obsess over the calories burned.

On the other hand, if you really want to burn more calories, maybe you can work out more intensely? When you do the elliptical, set the resistance higher and go at a faster pace. You will burn more calories in that same amount of time. Or when you do workout videos, make sure you do every move as well as you can. Jump your highest, drop down as low as you can in push ups, etc. There is always room for improvement!

shaycat

I just want to lose a little body fat.
Any advise on how to shake things up with my workouts?

EDesq

I feel like I am getting in a good workout. I am all sweaty and tired. I look at my HRM after and 140 calories? Really for a 30 minute workout DVD? Or 135 for 20 minutes of elliptical. 60 for 10 minutes on the treadmill.
Only 270 for an hour of Insanity! What is up with this?
I wonder if my TDEE is lower since I don't burn that many calories when trying?

Reality: Exercise (ANY ACTIVITY) is NOT a mechanism to weight LOSS. The REAL calories that will be burned relates to your Metabolism, as well as the OTHER Benefits. That is why an EXERCISE ROUTINE is not that important but in today's world where everyone is so sedintary it may be necessary for most (BUT for other benefits than the DIRECT burning of calories.) Your Body needs activity to stay Healthy (joint mobility...) The Body is made such that NO exercise routine is needed for one to lose weight, just breathing and digestion burns calories. But excercise is GOOD. But you need to develop a diferent mind set about wt loss...exercise will not get you there...it is only about 5-10% of wt loss and maintanance. Diet (What You Eat and Drink) is 90% of wt loss and/or Maintanance.

If you need toning, then just do some routine toning exercises; Body Building is a different matter.

janeite1990

As someone earlier pointed out, check your actual heart rate, not just the monitor. I think you are supposed to be between 60 and 85% of max. If you aren't in that range, find ways to up your heart rate. Maybe you aren in shape and really good at the dvd. Can you bust the intensity any harder?

shadowkitty22

I am smallish and for the most part at my goal weight. I have the Polar FT4. I think it is probably right.
I just wonder if my maintenance calories may be lower than I think.

The smaller you are the less you burn because there's less of you. I've watched my calorie burns slowly decrease from week to week even though I'm doing the same exercises that I was before and that's because there's almost 40 pounds less of me than there was at the beginning of this year.

eriemer

This is one more reason why I'm not wasting my money on a HRM. Sell it and purchase a good quality electric food scale. That is the one piece of diet equiptment worth the investment. Best $35 I ever spent. Use it everyday.

adamb83

I just want to lose a little body fat.
Any advise on how to shake things up with my workouts?

Strength/Resistance training. Best way to lower body fat % is to build some muscle (which also burns fat).

shaycat

Diet (What You Eat and Drink) is 90% of wt loss and/or Maintanance.

If you need toning, then just do some routine toning exercises; Body Building is a different matter.
[/quote]

Right that is why I get mad. I like to workout. I am trying to be more fit. However working out makes me hungrier than I would be without it, yet I cant really eat more.

But thank you all for the advise. I am not going to worry about the burned calories and just focus on looking for results.

russellma

What is your average HR for the workout? If it's near the top of your range, then there might be something wrong with your HRM or its setting. If it's near the bottom of your range, you can increase the intensity.

I found that some things (such as strength training and the stationary bike) don't generally get my HR up very high by themselves, so I try to find ways to boost it.

When I'm on the bike, I add hand weights and do an upper body workout while I'm pedaling. When I'm done with that, I do intervals.... 30 seconds hard work followed by 30-45 second lighter work.

On the treadmill, I gradually crank up the speed until my HR is at the top of my range and stays there, or I do intervals where I max out for a couple minutes followed by a fast walk for a minute or two.

I've also tried alternating strength training and calisthenics with cardio (jumping jacks,etc) to try to keep my HR up, which has worked OK.

shaycat

What is your average HR for the workout? If it's near the top of your range, then there might be something wrong with your HRM or its setting. If it's near the bottom of your range, you can increase the intensity.

I found that some things (such as strength training and the stationary bike) don't generally get my HR up very high by themselves, so I try to find ways to boost it.

When I'm on the bike, I add hand weights and do an upper body workout while I'm pedaling. When I'm done with that, I do intervals.... 30 seconds hard work followed by 30-45 second lighter work.

On the treadmill, I gradually crank up the speed until my HR is at the top of my range and stays there, or I do intervals where I max out for a couple minutes followed by a fast walk for a minute or two.

I've also tried alternating strength training and calisthenics with cardio (jumping jacks,etc) to try to keep my HR up, which has worked OK.

Now I feel stupid. How do I know what my range is?

eriemer

Someone made this thread, I can't verify its accuracy

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/548645-setup-polar-hrm-for-more-accurate-calorie-burn-for-known-bmr

Very usefull article. IMHO-way to much work. I say exercise and watch your intake, much less thinking involved. If you feel more hungry add a few hundred calories...no big deal.

I use gym equiptment estimates, adjust to match calories via MFP, for burn then eat some back only if I feel like it.

Brandicaloriecountess

I don't burn much either. I am lucky to get around 300-400 for an hour.

gerla_k

Are you small and/or close to normal weight anyway? If so then that's probably the reason... takes less effort to move a smaller vehicle.

If you're not, then HRM could be wrong. Recheck initial settings or buy a Polar FT7.

I was actually going to say the same thing- check the setting on your HRM - is your profile set correctly (weight, height, age?) I use polar ft4- it's pretty accurate. I am currently doing Jillian Michael's Body revolution and I burn around +/-270 cals in 30 minutes. I'm 5'9" and 160.

russellma

What is your average HR for the workout? If it's near the top of your range, then there might be something wrong with your HRM or its setting. If it's near the bottom of your range, you can increase the intensity.

I found that some things (such as strength training and the stationary bike) don't generally get my HR up very high by themselves, so I try to find ways to boost it.

When I'm on the bike, I add hand weights and do an upper body workout while I'm pedaling. When I'm done with that, I do intervals.... 30 seconds hard work followed by 30-45 second lighter work.

On the treadmill, I gradually crank up the speed until my HR is at the top of my range and stays there, or I do intervals where I max out for a couple minutes followed by a fast walk for a minute or two.

I've also tried alternating strength training and calisthenics with cardio (jumping jacks,etc) to try to keep my HR up, which has worked OK.

Now I feel stupid. How do I know what my range is?

I have a Polar FT4 and if I push the bottom right hand button after I stop my workout, it gives me the average heartrate and max heartrate. If I push it again, it shows how long I was in my "zone". I'm not sure if the FT40 is exactly the same, but I'm sure it has the same function somewhere!

shaycat

I will have to try that. I never push those buttons. I have the FT4. i have burnt 10045 cal so far with it.

russellma

I will have to try that. I never push those buttons. I have the FT4. i have burnt 10045 cal so far with it.

You might already know this, but the TOP right-hand button (on my FT4) allows you to go back through the training files and see the duration, average and max for past workouts!

If you push the bottom button DURING your workout, you can see where your heartrate is currently and how many calories you've burned up to that point.