is this site realistic

stunninS12
stunninS12 Posts: 4
in Health and Weight Loss
I like this site for the support and it keeps me motivated by checking in, but my question is how reliable is the calorie count of the food, and calorie count for the exercise . For example I went for a walk/jog (wog) and went to log it into my exercise diary, but who is to say how many calories I burned., or if I was going 5.5 mph. I guess I just wish that more people were concerned with what they ear and what amount of exercise they did and not so much on the numbers
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Replies

  • blf20
    blf20 Posts: 97 Member
    My experience is that the food calorie counts are pretty good. For instance, at the beginning, I always checked the count in MFP with the counts on the side of the package. The majority are spot on. The beauty of MFP is the huge database of foods so that there's no excuse not to know what is going in one's mouth. While I've had less experience on the varied exercise, I would imagine that if the counts were off, the Community would certainly say so.
    Best of luck with your journey
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    An HRM will give you a more accurate picture of calorie burn; they're under $100 on Amazon.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Like almost every site of this kind, it is based on averages. That being said, it's reasonable accurate. If you want to get more accurate for something like the walk/jog you mentioned, get a heart rate monitor. It will not be accurate for strength training like weight lifting but is will be for any cardio workouts.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    It might not be 100% accurate..but for me, it just gives me an idea of where I am.

    For instance, It's too easy to go to a restaurant and grab a salad and feel like I'm eating healthy, and then wonder why the scale won't move down.

    When I log what I eat, even if it's not 100% accurate, I stay within a certain range. If I don't log, I tend to grossly underestimate the calories I'm consuming.
  • usernamejoe
    usernamejoe Posts: 219 Member
    I use the tracker for estimates. But to be honest, I work out to feel good and sweat. I know what I'm doing in the gym is making me stronger and healthier... to each it's own. I don't use the numbers on here as the holy grail
  • Shadom
    Shadom Posts: 24 Member
    Try a heart rate monitor. I just got one and it's working out fine. It does help to know that you are getting somewhere.
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    No kidding, YOU SHOULD ASK FOR YOUR MONEY BACK. Ohh thats right its free and has helped thousands of people.
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I use a site like runkeeper or mapmyrun to map out where I go when running or walking the dog, and time myself. Those sites give a calorie estimate, too.

    I have a HRM, but I mostly bought it for the stopwatch function (it was cheap) and to be honest, I trust MFP's calorie counts more than the ones that gives me. Other HRMs are probably better. Because I highly doubt I only burned 450 calories running 11 miles in two hours. :wink:
  • krazyforyou
    krazyforyou Posts: 1,428 Member
    Like you I was depending on acurate counts for exercise by using the database. Then I bought a Mio HRM and use it only for calorie burns. Bought it at Academy for around 50.00.
  • shorty35565
    shorty35565 Posts: 1,425 Member
    I like this site for the support and it keeps me motivated by checking in, but my question is how reliable is the calorie count of the food, and calorie count for the exercise . For example I went for a walk/jog (wog) and went to log it into my exercise diary, but who is to say how many calories I burned., or if I was going 5.5 mph. I guess I just wish that more people were concerned with what they ear and what amount of exercise they did and not so much on the numbers

    I always double check the nutr facts w/ the ones on here b4 I add my food. So i know the ones I use are correct. & I have an HRM, so I put mine burn in manually now.
  • TanyaCurtis
    TanyaCurtis Posts: 630
    Yeah, MFP definitely over estimates, and is all over the place. If u really wanna know forsure, and most accurately, buy a HRM. I bought the PolarFT40, Love it!
  • Linbo93
    Linbo93 Posts: 229 Member
    Regarding the food logging, i find that even if I can't find what I need, I can just add it myself and keep it accurate. Over time, you build up your favorites and meals and logging gets faster and faster, while still remaining accurate.

    As for fitness, I never go off of what this site says. I use my bodymedia fit device.

    Before I had that device, I never logged my fitness in. I use this site primarily to hold myself accountable. And for that reason alone, it's a great tool!
  • IronmanPanda
    IronmanPanda Posts: 2,083 Member
    For some reason there are food entries that are way off and yet people confirm it as being correct.
    I usually cross reference the food entries with nutritiondata.com to make sure its correct before using it.

    Also the calorie burn estimates are a little off but until you get a HRM it puts you in the ballpark.
  • 388gigi
    388gigi Posts: 485 Member
    I joined MFP beginning of 2011. I'm pretty sure the first 12 months on here, my logging wasn't very accurate at all.

    I now have an HRM (best purchase ever!) and try to be as accurate as possible with the food. I weigh mostly everything, I do a lot of research, I cross check and I double check! Sometimes I become a little bit too obsessive over it and I get anxious when I can't log accurately or when I am out of routine...which is when I try to relax and pull back a bit!

    It's probably never going to 100% perfect, but the more we stick to it and the more we learn, the better and more accurate it will become. Either way, I think this site is really beneficial if you use it properly. Especially the community side of it :-)
  • alikrorp225
    alikrorp225 Posts: 54
    I use MFP as my primary source for keeping track of things. However, I use a free app called sportstracker to track my walking. I put in my height and weight and start my workout. It keeps track of my speed and how many miles I go and then gives me my calorie burn. I then put that number into MFP. I'm planning on getting a HRM as well, because you can plug it into your phone and it works with sportstracker. Even without a HRM, I'm loving using both of these apps together. It's been great! :)
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
    double check whatever you add in your diary, you can edit anything that isn't correct. weigh and measure your portions, buy a heart rate monitor, use mfp to track. It's as accurate as you are.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    I think for the most part the food calories are close....but logging exercise is going to be off for most of us. I love this site, and it has helped me lose 98 pounds going from a Obese BMI to normal.
  • MrsSamB
    MrsSamB Posts: 143 Member
    For example I went for a walk/jog (wog) and went to log it into my exercise diary, but who is to say how many calories I burned., or if I was going 5.5 mph.

    By doing a little bit of mathematics (manipulating the 'distance= rate x time' formula), you can figure out your rate and distance. This will give you a more accurate count for your calories.

    blessings,
    sam
  • wendyjo3
    wendyjo3 Posts: 52 Member
    An HRM will give you a more accurate picture of calorie burn; they're under $100 on Amazon.

    This.
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    StunninS12 - I'd like to know too. Today I was doing some pretty intense gardening - digging holes, squatting, dragging pots around, etc. and when I used the gardening entry on MFP's exercise page, it said I burned over 600 calories in two hours. I don't think so! I'm sore and all, but 600?

    I need to use a heart rate monitor, because I just don't think MFP takes into consideration what kind of shape you're in. If a sedentary person gets out and walks a mile in 20 minutes, he's going to burn a lot more calories than someone who's in great shape doing the same 20 min. mile.
  • tabulator32
    tabulator32 Posts: 701 Member
    Its an estimate based on averages for people in the same weight, age, height range as you. It is fairly accurate but not completely precise, however, for me and many others, it has proven to be very effective in helping us lose weight.
  • ZyheeMoongazer
    ZyheeMoongazer Posts: 343 Member
    As others have said, for best estimate of calories burned get a HRM. I have a Polar RS100 it was under $100 at Best Buy. The calories burned on this site and MANY other online calculators are very rough estimates. A HRM will provide a much better estimate since it knows your HR during the entire workout, but even then its an estimate. It is all scientific formulas, nothing will ever be exact as no ones bodies are the same.

    For food facts, it is only as accurate as the person who entered it into the database. Anything with a * is entered by a member. I always check the facts when adding to my log. If its not right, I fix it. Also be aware that this site is used by members in many countries. The same food by the same manufacturer can have different facts in different countries.
  • foraubs
    foraubs Posts: 263 Member
    Thanks for posting .. Im going to try that app!
  • Deltafliers
    Deltafliers Posts: 201 Member
    An HRM will give you a more accurate picture of calorie burn; they're under $100 on Amazon.

    Let's see, my weight loss/"slimming down" is very important to me while my husband is deployed. As a result, I have a food scale to weigh what I eat, and I have a fitbit (which uses MET's for caloric burn). I do go by my fitbit calorie burn, and when I do want to calculate how fast I have walked i use this formula: #miles/(min walked/60 min)= #mi/hour
  • bigpenguin570
    bigpenguin570 Posts: 52 Member
    :)
  • 388gigi
    388gigi Posts: 485 Member
    I need to use a heart rate monitor, because I just don't think MFP takes into consideration what kind of shape you're in. If a sedentary person gets out and walks a mile in 20 minutes, he's going to burn a lot more calories than someone who's in great shape doing the same 20 min. mile.

    I agree, however "sedentary" doesn't mean you aren't in great shape. I am sedentary as I am sitting at a desk all day at work. Although I work out 7 times a week on average.
  • Deltafliers
    Deltafliers Posts: 201 Member
    No kidding, YOU SHOULD ASK FOR YOUR MONEY BACK. Ohh thats right its free and has helped thousands of people.

    lol
  • AuddAlise
    AuddAlise Posts: 723 Member
    I have an app that tells me how fast, and how long I walked/ran. Also how far I walked. I go off of that.
    I also time how long I swim.
  • prairiedawg2014
    prairiedawg2014 Posts: 367
    i really don't think it matters how accurate it is.....its more like an estimation i guess.....but regardless.....it has worked for hundreds of us so far. i don't use a monitor, just go by what MFP says....i have had success so far.
    good luck with your weightloss! : )
  • bigpenguin570
    bigpenguin570 Posts: 52 Member
    I don't know about most people, but I don't have time to double check my calorie intake or exercise output on another website. Really? I think this site is great in the fact that is gets you to realize what you are putting into your mouth, and lets you take credit for "moving". Just the fact that a person is committed to being accountable everyday to intake & output is a start.

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