How to calculate minutes for weight training in MFP?

ijustmightbecrazy
ijustmightbecrazy Posts: 37
in Fitness and Exercise
I used 15 sec x 16 reps (2 x 8) x 12 (number of different lifts) / 60 (convert seconds to minutes) and got 48 minutes, and I spent about 2 hours in the gym, which seems right since we spend more time resting between sets than the actual time lifting itself. Thoughts?

Replies

  • DeniseNichole76
    DeniseNichole76 Posts: 303 Member
    Invest in a good heart rate monitor. It will make your entries accurate.
  • ijustmightbecrazy
    ijustmightbecrazy Posts: 37
    Invest in a good heart rate monitor. It will make your entries accurate.

    Thanks, any tips to hold me through until my next paycheck?
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    look at the clock when you start........keep rest periods short......look at the clock when you are done.
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
    You won't get anything close to an accurate calorie count from MFP. MFP has no idea how much you lifted or which exercises you did.
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    Invest in a good heart rate monitor. It will make your entries accurate.

    Thanks, any tips to hold me through until my next paycheck?

    What she said.

    And be really, really conservative with your burns.
  • mrsnathanandrew
    mrsnathanandrew Posts: 631 Member
    You won't get anything close to an accurate calorie count from MFP. MFP has no idea how much you lifted or which exercises you did.

    ^^ This.

    When I lift I do my best to keep my rest at 1 minute between each set.
  • sisierra
    sisierra Posts: 659 Member
    meh, just subtract a half hour...or non. when you lift your body burn calories for longer, so I think that would carry over for your rest periods
  • wd773
    wd773 Posts: 122 Member
    Invest in a good heart rate monitor. It will make your entries accurate.

    Thanks, any tips to hold me through until my next paycheck?

    LOL!!! i know right! it aint always as easy as that!!!! hey if the formula works i say keep it up, its free!!
  • jcr85
    jcr85 Posts: 229
    Why not just count your whole workout? After you finish a set your heart rate is still elevated and during your rest period I am assuming your waiting for your heart rate to come down so it is basically the same concept as HIIT. I know we are not the same size, age and fitness level but I burn about 600 cals per hour lifting according to my heart rate monitor that should at least give you a ball park figure to work with.
  • Punktorian
    Punktorian Posts: 224 Member
    HRM aren't very accurate for weight training unless it is just really light weight in a circuit or something. I wouldn't worry too much about the exact calorie burn, focus on getting enough protein to keep up with it. You should also try to cut that 2 hours down, assuming you are doing all weight training. If you are doing more of a bodybuilding type of lifting you can keep the rest intervals shorter with less weight (30-60 seconds or so) or with strength training 3-5 minutes rest and do more compound movements to cut that time down.

    That being said you can still use a HRM to estimate but I would cut off some of what it says.

    Also here is a bit of an overview on rest intervals. Tons of other info out there on it, I suggest really looking at your goals and doing the research on it. Work harder AND smarter for the best results.
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa111.htm
  • jcr85
    jcr85 Posts: 229
    HRM aren't very accurate for weight training unless it is just really light weight in a circuit or something. I wouldn't worry too much about the exact calorie burn, focus on getting enough protein to keep up with it. You should also try to cut that 2 hours down, assuming you are doing all weight training. If you are doing more of a bodybuilding type of lifting you can keep the rest intervals shorter with less weight (30-60 seconds or so) or with strength training 3-5 minutes rest and do more compound movements to cut that time down.

    That being said you can still use a HRM to estimate but I would cut off some of what it says.

    Also here is a bit of an overview on rest intervals. Tons of other info out there on it, I suggest really looking at your goals and doing the research on it. Work harder AND smarter for the best results.
    http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/issa111.htm

    This makes no sense... You are constantly burning calories no reason you should deduct any burnt calorie
  • Punktorian
    Punktorian Posts: 224 Member
    I didn't realize anyone replied to this but I suppose I might as well answer even if it is late.
    As I said in the very first line, "HRM aren't very accurate for weight training..."
    They will usually over estimate how much you burn because they are programmed for aerobic activity. That is why I said use it as a guideline and you should estimate a lower number than it gives you.
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75
  • Nopedotjpeg
    Nopedotjpeg Posts: 1,805 Member
    I usually just take the time I spent in the gym, and cut it in half. The majority of calorie burning comes from the day after when your muscles are repairing themselves. I find it counterproductive to calculate only the time I spent actually lifting (probably 30-45 seconds per set). Especially when there is no accurate way of knowing how much I burnt in those periods of time.

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