MapMyRun calories burned vs MFP

deejaycee114

So I use MapMyRun to keep track of distance, time, and speed when I go for my walks at a nearby trail. It's about 3.5 miles, and depending on an average speed of 3.7 mph, it takes me between 55-60 minutes to finish. When I'm done, the app always says I've burned about 100 calories LESS than what MFP and www.sparkpeople.com calculate. Actually, since I haven't seen a "3.7 mph walk" in MFP's list of exercises, I've been using sparkpeople.com as my guide for logging in my burned calories.

Anyone else come across this issue between, say, a treadmill and MFP, where your calories burned differ? Which do you log?

pasturepilot

You know, 100 calories is one of those tiny snack packets. Or a big gulp of my momma's sweet tea. I really don't get tied up over the calorie differences - but I generally let the workout app/equipment supersede the MFP numbers.

The bottom line, to me, is that neither one matters. It's every couple weeks when I dig out a punch to make another hole in my belt that makes all the difference!

Cheers!

wabash13

When in doubt, I always choose the less impressive number. That way I'm not in danger of overestimating my progress.

PixieAdele

I've found this issue as well.. the only reason I can think of as to why map my run differs so much is that it may take into account your current weight (although I havent found any evidence of this yet), whereas mfp doesn't, you just log a pervious exercise that someone else has done.

But I agree with wabash i would stick to which ever report gives the lowest cals burned so you know you definately havent gone over your cals for that day. However, if you're trying to maintain your weight like me its a bit dodgy.. I've not weighed myself since reaching my goal weight last wkend so I guess ill know if my exercise has been under-estimated or not this saturday when i weigh myself again.

Pimpmonkey

When in doubt, I always choose the less impressive number. That way I'm not in danger of overestimating my progress.

LOL, that's what I do!

douglasmobbs

100 calories is something to be worried about. 100 calories difference per day equals 10lb in a year.

If in doubt take the lower number but track your calculated calories out and your measured calories in.

Calories out - calories in = weight loss - fudge factor.

There is a fudge factor in there to compensate for the differences between your personal burns etc and the standard ones. This is due to the vagaries of nature and difference in body form (muscle %age etc).

PixieAdele

Ive done a bit more research and this is what I found on the mapmyrun website.. apparently it uses your BMI to calulate cals burned.. which probably makes it more accurate than using mfp database.

"Calculate your calories burned.

The workout calorie calculator helps you calculate calories burned during a workout. It can calculate how many calories you burned during walking, biking, swimming, cycling, or even tae bo. The calculator knows how to calculate calories burned for hundreds of exercises. It uses standard calorie calculations based on your height, weight, gender and also the duration of your planned workout. Use the workout calorie counter in conjunction with the healthy meal planner to help you meet your diet and exercise goals." http://www.mapmyrun.com/tools/calculators

Saying that.. I used the gps app yesterday for mapmyrun jogged about 2 miles at 5min/mile (which in itself is dodgy because Im pretty sure i cant run that fast!) and it said I had burned about 84 cals. But after logging in the same details into the mapmyrun cals burned calculator via the link above it said i would have burned 160 cals (much nearer to the mfp estimation).. so its still a mystery to me! Maybe the app is more (or less) accurate than the website? But it is a bit disheartening when you think you've done a great workout and then it tells you you havent even reached 100 cals burned

Obviously its ok if you are wanting to lose weight because you know you havent overestimated but for others underestimating the cals burned isn't great.

IAMDDAY

I would suggest getting an HRM and using that to get a more accuracy. You don't want to guess because if you are eating to far under you calories then you are not going to lose weight either. So find out how much you body is burning and track it that way. It is not distance and speed but more you heart rate and how long you have it in the target zone to burn those calories. Since i have gotten mine my weight loss has been better because i was not putting in enough calories in my body to support what i was doing.

PixieAdele

Ive heard about this target zone you mention while looking into getting a HRM (which I will definately invest in once payday passes!) maybe this is what map my run uses to calculate the cals burned? for example my run yesterday was 5min/mile for about 10 mins if i remember correctly and i burned 80-odd cals. today i ran slower almost 10min/mile and my cals burned were 99 for around the same amount of time. perhaps I was more in that target zone today and I went past that zone yesterday. Some of the HRMs ive been looking at calc that zone individually for you after you put in your essential measurements and beeps when you go over or under that pace. maybe this target zone is what I was missing yesterday.

thanks for your help and suggesting the HRM.

josiereside

A HRM is really the only thing that will give you a close estimate of what your calories burned are.

kls13la

I've found that MapMyRun estimates are vastly different than what my HRM reports. For example, this past weekend I walked over four miles at average 4 mph. MapMyRun told me I burned over 500 calories. My HRM told me around 300.

deejaycee114

thanks, all, for your replies! i definitely will look into getting an HRM.

omma_to_3

Ive heard about this target zone you mention while looking into getting a HRM (which I will definately invest in once payday passes!) maybe this is what map my run uses to calculate the cals burned? for example my run yesterday was 5min/mile for about 10 mins if i remember correctly and i burned 80-odd cals. today i ran slower almost 10min/mile and my cals burned were 99 for around the same amount of time. perhaps I was more in that target zone today and I went past that zone yesterday. Some of the HRMs ive been looking at calc that zone individually for you after you put in your essential measurements and beeps when you go over or under that pace. maybe this target zone is what I was missing yesterday.

thanks for your help and suggesting the HRM.

I quit using MapMyRun because the GPS would always start me about 2 miles away from where I really started. I use RunKeeper now, which seems more accurate for me. Plus, when it does mess up the start point, I can easily edit it on the website and it adjusts all my numbers. I used to have some Olympic quality running with MapMyRun! It was good entertainment on my FB profile LOL.