What to believe... elliptical machine or MFP?
kc82
Posts: 64 Member
When I work out on the elliptical at the gym, the machine registers that I burn on average of 350 calories. However when I enter my exercise on MFP it says that I've burned 555 calories for that exercise. That's a pretty significant difference and I'm honestly not sure which one is correct or which one I should use.
So my question is, what number do you go by? I would hate to think I'm burning more calories, when in actuality I'm not.
So my question is, what number do you go by? I would hate to think I'm burning more calories, when in actuality I'm not.
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Replies
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Most machines are way off, MFP is probably closer but probably not right either. Best way to measure calories for cardio is to use a HRM.0
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Most machines are way off, MFP is probably closer but probably not right either. Best way to measure calories for cardio is to use a HRM.
Agreed, I would believe neither.0 -
I would say elliptical.. I think MFP averages way higher on what you actually burned... Like at gym if I burn 550 cals on here it would say over 600 so I go with lower numbre to be safe0
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Agreed - neither is accurate.
An HRM uses your gender, height, weight, age & heart rate to measure calories. What information did the machine ask for? The more information the machine has ... the closer it will be.
The one thing the machine AND MFP will not have is your fitness level (resting heart rate VS. workout heart rate). I assume MFP is using an average (?)0 -
If you have to go by one, go with the lower number.
For me the elliptical would say 350, MFP would say 200 and really I burn 100.0 -
Wow - thanks for all the replies! The elliptical machine only asks for my weight, nothing else. I've actually been looking into buying a HRM, however I'm a little lost as to which ones would be best for me. They seem to have mixed reviews. Any suggestions?0
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MFP calculates my elliptical calories burned way higher than my HRM. The machine is closer to my HRM than MFP. If that helps any.0
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Both are inaccurate w/o a HRM.
The elliptical tells me I burn about 1/4 more calories than I actually do, and MFP tells me I burn about 1/3 more calories than I actually do. If you work out a lot (like me) these discrepancies can really add up and actually cause you to GAIN weight.
Get yourself a HRM!!0 -
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I just recently did this experiment- comparing all three. I cannot remember specifics, but I did 30minutes of pretty heavy intensity elliptical and found it to burn about 350 calories (I weigh 200lbs). The elliptical itself was in the 400 range and MFP even higher.
It wasn't far off, but the only real way to tell is by using a HRM. Both the elliptical and MFP are a bit too high, but if you are going to go with one or the other, go with the elliptical but enter in a weight 50lbs less than you actually weigh. It is pretty close to what your HRM will say.0 -
What is a HRM? And where can I get one.0
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I just bought this too from bodytronics.com for about $60. It is AMAZING!!!0 -
your heart rate monitor0
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Wow - thanks for all the replies! The elliptical machine only asks for my weight, nothing else. I've actually been looking into buying a HRM, however I'm a little lost as to which ones would be best for me. They seem to have mixed reviews. Any suggestions?
HRMs are the best means for measuring exercise calories that we have that also is cheap enough for most people to own. They are not perfect but they are probably within 5-10% which is probably way more accurate than the machines at the gum or MFP.
I would check out a Polar HRM @ http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/
I have a FT7 and love it, you can get it for $75 new or sometimes on ebay for less.0 -
Thank you all again! This all VERY helpful information. I am checking out the link provided for the HRM, I know that is going to be my best best in the long run. 0
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heart rate monitor over both, when I purchased my heart rate monitor I discovered, I was cheating myself by almost 200 calories by just using what mfp thinks my calorie burn is. the HRM is your best bet for accuracy0
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I just bought this too from bodytronics.com for about $60. It is AMAZING!!!
This is mine Too! OUTSTANDING!0 -
You should buy a heart rate monitor....I got a Polar monitor thru Amazon for only $65. Great tool for weight loss.0
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Neither! HRM is your best bet. I have a Polar FT7 & love it!0
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Yup both are way off and usually overestimate. When I got my HRM I found I was way overestimating everything!! I have the Polar ft4 and it was 65 shipped to my door and I love it!0
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Neither. Get a Heart Rate Monitor.
If you can't get one, err on the extreme side of caution if you are eating cals back.0 -
get a heart rate monitor...can't go wrong with that....mine will calculate my calories burned.0
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Most machines are way off, MFP is probably closer but probably not right either. Best way to measure calories for cardio is to use a HRM.
Agreed, I would believe neither.
Your own HRM is the only way to get the right number.0 -
I'd go with the lower one for sure....I feel that MFP estimates quite high. For me, I've compared my HRM to the elliptical at my gym, and they're very close. I always enter my age and current weight into the machine when I start too....
(edit) Note: Even the HRM is really just an estimate, not an absolute, so I'm with those that suggest you err on the side of caution if eating back those calories!0 -
I bought the Polar FT7 (off Amazon, apx $75) and I LOVE IT. I feel so much more confident about logging my exercise calories. And I have found that both fitness machines and MFP are considerably off in terms of actual calories burned. Buy the HRM! You won't regret it!0
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Both are inaccurate w/o a HRM.
The elliptical tells me I burn about 1/4 more calories than I actually do, and MFP tells me I burn about 1/3 more calories than I actually do. If you work out a lot (like me) these discrepancies can really add up and actually cause you to GAIN weight.
Get yourself a HRM!!
I actually tested it out and I find the elliptical machine (after entering my weight and age) is pretty close to the HRM. Not spot on but close.. say Elliptical machine says 250 burned HRM will report somethign between 235 and 245, which is not terrible. MFP on the other han d- makes me feel like a slouch because Im no where NEAR the numbers it reports.0 -
When I started logging exercise I made the conscious decision to log the lowest burned calorie count from the various sources I had. Elliptical machine I enter age and weight and always use the handle grip HRM. Also checked what MFP estimated my burn would be. After a couple months of that I got a Garmin FR60 HRM which has height, weight, age, gender and an estimate of fitness level programmed into it. I now record the lowest of the machine, my HRM and MFP. MFP has always been the highest. Machine used to be the lowest but in the last week my HRM has dropped slightly lower than the machine, because I'm getting in much better shape. I still record the lower.0
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MFP's calculation is much higher. The machines are closer to your calories burned once you put in your weight. Invest in a HRM for more accuracy. My HRM is usually around the same as the elliptical; especially if the elliptical handles have the sensors on them.0
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^^Buy this one!!0 -
I would go with the machine over MFP, MFP is insanely high on most exercise.
This is just another big reason not to eat back exercise calories, or at most to eat back 33% of your exercise calories.0
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