exercise machine calorie counters

ck2d

Do you trust the numbers they give you? Because I can burn way more calories (according to the machines at my gym) sitting down on a bike than I can running on an elliptical. Don't think so! Judging by my heart rate and sweat I am definitely doing more work on the elliptical! The machines at my gym are about 1/6 what the charts say. So should I go with the piddley numbers on the machines or go by estimates?

Iceprincessk25

NO NO NO NO NO. They are SOOOOO WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off that it's not even funny.

iheartlife

NO NO NO NO NO. They are SOOOOO WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY off that it's not even funny.

Okay, so I know the machine display tipically spits a pack of lies in the calorie area. How then, do you estimate your calories burned?

Iceprincessk25

I personally wear a heart rate monitor. You can get them pretty cheap on overstock or woot.com. They are the BEST money ever spent if you are serious about losing weight. I don't go for a certain time goal anymore when I work out, I go for a certain calorie goal now.

I actually found out that I was burning MORE calories than what the machine was saying so I was cheating myself.

A lot of the time people will find out that they burn less so that's a really important factor to note.

Jerid1330

Heart rate monitors, best thing ever!!!

try to get one with a chest strap, they are much more accurate, though I find it to be somewhat uncomfortable.

Iceprincessk25

Yeah......The chest strap can be annoying sometimes....especially since I wear two sports bras but it is WAAAAY more accurate.