Calories burned exaggerations
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The important question is why are YOU so concerned? If you know whats working for you..then you should keep doing what works for you. But to put a whole post up because you "see" people on MFP putting what you deem "exaggerated" calorie burnt amounts is a bit sad. How do you know they aren't using HRMs?, How do you know that they don't way more than you? Everyone is different, learn to use constructive criticism or hold your tongue.
EYE (needed to spell it that way for mrs sassytude over here) am NOT concerned, I am merely making a statement about people who are sad when they are not making progress, so maybe they can look at this possible reason why.
I do not know why some of you are slamming on the defense when I am not attacking anyone. I'm not obsessed with what you guys are doing, what I'm doing IS working for me, and good for me, but I was merely pointing something out. Some of you act like I am in angst over what others are doing...take a chill pill. WOOSAH
Some people really like seeing the huge numbers and get upset when you tell them it's not accurate. I don't know why anyone would like to live in a state of denial, but some do. Same thing goes for people who don't like it when they hear that they are probably eating more than they think cause they're not using a food scale. Anyhow, I think this is useful to know, especially for those that are "plateaued."
I don't know why some think they are must be so different. They must be burning over 1000 calories in a work out. Guess what? Someone 250 lbs would not even burn 1000 calories running for an hour at 10 min/mile. So compare that to your own situation. And yes, very high intensity exercise may burn more per hour, but if your exercise is at that high of an intensity, I can bet that you won't be able to do it for an hour straight!
The other thing they forget is that, if you want to "eat back" exercise calories, you should eat back the net, not the total. Otherwise you are counting your BMR calories twice!
I bow down to your ability to say what I have a hard time trying to.0 -
*sigh*
First, I completely agree with the OP...and what better place to say what's on her mind than in a general forum topic.
Second, those HRM are not entirely accurate either, at least not for all activities...so just because the HRM *agrees with* the machine, that doesn't necessarily mean it's accurate.
The entire point of this thread was that some people are likely relying on inflated burn rates and those same people are disappointed that they are not getting the results they expected to get. OP is just saying, "Hey, I think I see what the problem is here."
(All that said, I am a little disappointed that MFP's prediction of my weight in 5 weeks is always too high...so maybe I am consistently *underestimating* my calories burned (or even my TDEE)...plausible, because I've always been a "high metabolism" kind of guy...(and to be clear, I am currently eating with the intention of gaining weight).)0 -
I always underestimate calories burned and over estimate calories I intake. When I enter my weight on the machines I go much lower then my actual body weight to get a more accurate estimation.0
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I def agree to under estimate if you plan in to eat back your calories. I current don't have a working HRM so I use the calories burned on the machine.0
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HRMs are a different story, I agree...its the people that say they burned 600 calories walking for 30 minutes and Im like...WHAAAATTT?!! Lol
OMG I think the same thing. Im like what the hell am I doing wrong - on yeah I m watchign the machine advance in calories while IM not moving. Thats my reminder that its just that- a machine... and likely knows nothing a/b how fast my body is burning calories specificially if I havent entered my weight or age. Great post yall0 -
That is also another reason I only use the food tracker on here and not the exercise one.0
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I have a Sole E35 elliptical, I use the #'s the machine gives me and not MFP. MFP is usually off from anywhere between 50 &100.0
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I've seen people say they burned 1,000 calories for an hour of Zumba. That's impossible. Plus, an hour long zumba class includes warm up and warm downs. You need to RUN 10/mph for an hour to burn that.
I haven't seen 1000 cals for zumba but I had been using what MFP gave me (595 calories in one hour) and I always thought that was a little excessive.. today used a heart rate monitor w/ chest strap and showed I burned almost 700.
I do think the #s it gives me for my elliptical are out of this world.. can't wait to use the HRM for that to find out.
I am a Zumba Instructor, and you can in fact burn 1000 calories if you do roughly an hour and a half class. I weigh 204 and when I teach an hour, my HRM says 850 (mid impact, to the higher side), however, I tend to only log roughly 2/3 of that. I don't count warm up and cool down in the calories that I've burnt. A big calorie burn is possible, but it all depends on the weight of the person and the extent of impact (high, med, low) etc, that they work at.
I agree. And as you said you do not count the warm up or cool down. I do Crossfit, it is an hour long class everyday. BUT....its a 10 minute warm up, 10 min cool down...which leaves me with 40 min....THEN in between the harder weights, like sandbags, tires or kettlebells, we stop for 2 min for water...so I in the end dont count the 600 burned for the 40 minutes, I count the 300 for the actual non stop work time. But thats just me.0 -
I was thinking about getting a HRM monitor and was researching them online. I found a site where they tested HRM's against a more accurate method (I think it was some sort of measured exhalation), and found that they had a 15% error rate. Since all I'd be using it for is to verify my treadmill, I decided not to get one.
I record what my treadmill says, and I keep it calibrated for my weight. But, given all the variables and inaccuracies involved I've decided to only eat back a few of my exercise calories. It seems to be working so far.0 -
I've always been super suspicious of the burned calories numbers on this and other sites. MFP tells me I'm burning 954 calories for 60 minutes of "Swimming, leisurely, general". I'm not even sure what it takes into account for that, but when I go to the pool, I spend most of my time doing leg lifts in the pool and swimming, etc., still not convinced I'm getting a burn anywhere close to that, and I'm in no way being leisurely.
I would use my HRM in the pool, but I'm scared to submerge it in the water, even tho it's supposed to be water resistance/proof or whatever. It's the Polar FT4, not the most expensive HRM, but costs enough that I'd rather not drown it.0 -
What baffles me is when I read someone burned calories doing "desk work". Can somebody explain that to me?
Maybe they're moving desks. :laugh:0 -
I've noticed that MFP's exercise calories are sometimes more than double what the elliptical says. I think the MFP calories are off.0
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I just read an article in women's health about how so many people overestimate their burn because they are going off of the gym machine's numbers. It said that those numbers can be way off especially if the equipment is older. It also said that most HRM's are also off and estimate too high as even though its properly more accurate - you can't get an exact calorie burn unless you have more sophisticated equipment. It says that is why so many people get frustrated with their "diet" because they don't lose. Also, interestingly - it said that when someone starts a workout program - like a class or walking - they estimate their burn for that class - but don't realize that they don't do the same things to be active the rest of the day that they used to - they think they did a class or walked so they don't have to take the stairs - can sit on the couch that night, etc. So in fact they really aren't upping their calorie burn as much as they thought. There was a reference to Zumba, I can't remember exactly what it said - but it did say something about people thinking they burned 800 to 1000 calories a class and that is an over-exageration for most people. I use a fitness program on Iphone and it tracks me with my pace and miles, and I have input my age and weight, and my calories burned for a 2 mile jog are way less than I was logging on MFP. Not that I care what someone else does - we each have our own way but I just thought the article was interesting considering what I see on MFP a lot of times.
Please dont be offended, but most articles in magazines are rarely backed up by reserch. Most of the time "the magazine" needs to publish an issue and " a writer" just does a quick reserch online and formulates her or his oppinionm. Not to say that some or most of it is true or false. I think now a days HR monitors are pritty sofiaticates and are capable of giving a fair estimates
Not offended at all - I didn't state that it was backed up by research - just thought it was an interesting article and thought I would share.0 -
Wrong. I burned 1487 calories doing Turbo Jam for 45 minutes last weekend. It depends on the person, their build, their heart rate, etc. I often burn around 1000 doing Zumba if I put a ton of effort into it.I've seen people say they burned 1,000 calories for an hour of Zumba. That's impossible. Plus, an hour long zumba class includes warm up and warm downs. You need to RUN 10/mph for an hour to burn that.
I get so tired of everyone acting like they know everything about everything. Everyone's situation is different.
To the OP, you said, "You guys," so people feel attacked. Plus, they're trying to correct your error. We didn't know you meant people your weight because you didn't specify that. Perhaps this will prevent you from making broad, sweeping, accusatory posts in the future.
I don't believe it's humanly possible to burn 33 calories a minute, which is what your HRM is telling you. Your HR is higher than the average person (which does NOT mean you burn more, necessarily) or you entered something wrong. Does your HRM think you weigh 800 lbs. or something?
Is a Zumba class really 90 minutes? I thought they were 50.
For everyone saying "I know my burn because my HRM/Body Bugg told me", it's just an estimate, just like the databases, though with more information. You don't know your actual burn unless you've had a lab test on a treadmill with a hose in your mouth.
The databases and devices are good tools and are often pretty accurate but they're dependent on the human input being correct.
That said, I think the "2300 calories playing in the pool" post meant his total calorie allotment for the day. I hope.0 -
I've noticed that MFP's exercise calories are sometimes more than double what the elliptical says. I think the MFP calories are off.
That's interesting. MFP gets really pretty close to what my treadmill says.0 -
A thumbs up to the OP:-)
We all know that our bodies are different, the metabolism and that we burn more cals the heavier we are and the more intense we workout. Nothing can be accurate, MFP estimates are not accurate at all and therefore I don't use them. I use my HRM for a more accurate estimate than a guesstimate:bigsmile:
I also minus 50 cals/hour because my body would burn them anyway...just by keeping me alive.
What really annoys me are those pals who inflate their calorie burn to get a "wow, wtg" comment only to ask weeks later why they didn't lose a pound. Then they explain it with slow metabolism and the beloved weight loss plateau. I had a pal like that. She regularly burnt over 1500 cals a day with cleaning vigorous effort and food preparation. Her profile pic showed a mess in the background(vigorous effort) and her diary only fast food. I think this is exactly what the OP meant. I blocked this pal, btw.
Otherwise: there are many people here on MFP who have just started their journey and are very heavy. They really burn an awful lot more than those who are close to goal.0 -
Not sure if others do this but I actually will subtract out my BMR for the amount of time I was excercising when calculating calories burned. SInce MFP already gives me that allotment I would be double counting that burn. And w/o an HRM I would be completley lost as the burn numbers from MFP are nothing but SWAG's.0
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You guys can't keep going off the numbers in MFP, nor what your elliptical/spin/treadmills say. If you went on the elliptical for an hour, as I do (level 17/20), and it says you burned 1200 calories...chances are you most likely did half. In the end isn't it better to underestimate it and NOT eat back those hard earned calories. Just sayin'....
I find this constructive. A lot of people I see on here burn extreme amounts of calories doing very light activity, eat all of their calories back and wonder why they are gaining weight. I think this helps those who are having problems.
I see several members every once in a while post they burned 400 calories for 1 minute of breastfeeding. I don't know much about breastfeeding, but if their next post is that they gained 2lbs that week I would direct them here.
I appreciate you seeing that I am just trying to be constructive....and via thread to get to the masses. I wish so many of you would stop thinking I am worried about everyone else, I am merely trying to maybe get a few people to see it too. It may be lower calories, or more, or the same, everyone is different. I was just inspired by a man who posted about burning over 2000 calories swimming...and I have seen so many like this before...just trying to say it in a more spread out way. So sorry so many of you are walling up into tanks and need to gun me down.
As a new person to MFP, I don't find this post to be bad. I agree, with you in fact, I guess the main point you are trying to make is, dont rely on just one source. If you Treadmill says 450, MFP says 600 do an average. Don't just take the higher number because it looks good.
Where I work, we have a full gym, and the elliptical in there is nice. I can put in Height, weight, and age, and calorie goal and it tells me to speed up, and adjusted the resistance and incline to meet the goal. So if I slack of in the beginning of the work out, the machine adjusts and the last half is killer... With it beeping FASTER! FASTER! FASTER, on a resistance of like 10 and an incline of 13. Also, it has a HRM built in to the handles, and its numbers come out to be more than MFP... So I go with the lower numbers.0 -
Really its just the same as someone is is very overweight, they will lose 4 or 6 llbs in one week and i struggle to lose one lol, even though im at the top end of my ideal weight., or maybe a tiny bit in the overweight line.0
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Why is everyone jumping on the original poster! I get annoyed by people over exagerrating their burns as well. Even if they do claim to use a HRM. Can I just remove them? Yes but sometimes I might not want to.
I find it impossible to burn 1,000 calories doing housework. Seriously. No way. SOme people really do need some education on what they are acutally burning.0 -
The important question is why are YOU so concerned? If you know whats working for you..then you should keep doing what works for you. But to put a whole post up because you "see" people on MFP putting what you deem "exaggerated" calorie burnt amounts is a bit sad. How do you know they aren't using HRMs?, How do you know that they don't way more than you? Everyone is different, learn to use constructive criticism or hold your tongue.
EYE (needed to spell it that way for mrs sassytude over here) am NOT concerned, I am merely making a statement about people who are sad when they are not making progress, so maybe they can look at this possible reason why.
I do not know why some of you are slamming on the defense when I am not attacking anyone. I'm not obsessed with what you guys are doing, what I'm doing IS working for me, and good for me, but I was merely pointing something out. Some of you act like I am in angst over what others are doing...take a chill pill. WOOSAH
Some people really like seeing the huge numbers and get upset when you tell them it's not accurate. I don't know why anyone would like to live in a state of denial, but some do. Same thing goes for people who don't like it when they hear that they are probably eating more than they think cause they're not using a food scale. Anyhow, I think this is useful to know, especially for those that are "plateaued."
I don't know why some think they are must be so different. They must be burning over 1000 calories in a work out. Guess what? Someone 250 lbs would not even burn 1000 calories running for an hour at 10 min/mile. So compare that to your own situation. And yes, very high intensity exercise may burn more per hour, but if your exercise is at that high of an intensity, I can bet that you won't be able to do it for an hour straight!
The other thing they forget is that, if you want to "eat back" exercise calories, you should eat back the net, not the total. Otherwise you are counting your BMR calories twice!
I bow down to your ability to say what I have a hard time trying to.
seeing as I've lost 110 lbs, I'LL BOW DOWN TO MY OWN ABILITY AND MY OWN COMMON SENSE...Again unless you're a doctor...please keep your opinions to your bloody self.0 -
ITA that the calories burned are an exaggerations. Sometimes I adjust mine downward (no, I do not think 20 minutes of easy tae bo burned 400 calories or whatever MFP said, so I adjusted it by half, I also don't think 5 easy minutes on the eliptical burned 77 calories like it told me the other day).
Sometimes i adjust them and sometimes I don't, because it's fun to pretend I burned 500 calories
So long as you don't eat back all the calories (maybe eat back a few if you are hungry) it's not going to hurt your progress either. Most people i see burning 1000 calories are not eating all of those back.
ETA one more thing. My calories on MFP are frequently higher than the calories on machines, but I never adjust the weight setting on the machines, so it could be they are more accurate than I am guessing. But the only times I really adjust things are when I don't think my personal effort was very great and MFP seems to think it was. Then I adjust.0 -
The important question is why are YOU so concerned? If you know whats working for you..then you should keep doing what works for you. But to put a whole post up because you "see" people on MFP putting what you deem "exaggerated" calorie burnt amounts is a bit sad. How do you know they aren't using HRMs?, How do you know that they don't way more than you? Everyone is different, learn to use constructive criticism or hold your tongue.
EYE (needed to spell it that way for mrs sassytude over here) am NOT concerned, I am merely making a statement about people who are sad when they are not making progress, so maybe they can look at this possible reason why.
I do not know why some of you are slamming on the defense when I am not attacking anyone. I'm not obsessed with what you guys are doing, what I'm doing IS working for me, and good for me, but I was merely pointing something out. Some of you act like I am in angst over what others are doing...take a chill pill. WOOSAH
Some people really like seeing the huge numbers and get upset when you tell them it's not accurate. I don't know why anyone would like to live in a state of denial, but some do. Same thing goes for people who don't like it when they hear that they are probably eating more than they think cause they're not using a food scale. Anyhow, I think this is useful to know, especially for those that are "plateaued."
I don't know why some think they are must be so different. They must be burning over 1000 calories in a work out. Guess what? Someone 250 lbs would not even burn 1000 calories running for an hour at 10 min/mile. So compare that to your own situation. And yes, very high intensity exercise may burn more per hour, but if your exercise is at that high of an intensity, I can bet that you won't be able to do it for an hour straight!
The other thing they forget is that, if you want to "eat back" exercise calories, you should eat back the net, not the total. Otherwise you are counting your BMR calories twice!
I bow down to your ability to say what I have a hard time trying to.
seeing as I've lost 110 lbs, I'LL BOW DOWN TO MY OWN ABILITY AND MY OWN COMMON SENSE...Again unless you're a doctor...please keep your opinions to your bloody self.
I was not talking to you. You are being really nasty. I choose not to use what certificates I do have to argue with you....its not worth arguing with you over something that was meant to be a point not a war.0 -
HRMs are a different story, I agree...its the people that say they burned 600 calories walking for 30 minutes and Im like...WHAAAATTT?!! Lol
Why do you believe that's impossible? I keep my pace up and not only sweat like a crazy man during my walks, I'm still pouring for 20 mins when I get back to my desk.
But why not use whatever numbers you want, and if you're reaching your weight loss goals, keep using it? I'm also noticing a trend where men seem to believe they've burned more calories than MFP states, and women swear they've burned less. I'm definitely in the "MFP is too low" camp.
As a side note, I'm not sure why so many people are willing to take the number from a HRM as gospel. When it comes to calories burned, they've been shown to vary widely in accuracy. They aren't giving you a real number, after all. They are using an algorithm, the same as the elliptical or treadmill, and the same as MFP. Different algorithms, but all are still a best guess based on what an average person would burn.0 -
I once burned 800 calories lifting my remote to flip the channel. True story.0
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seeing as I've lost 110 lbs, I'LL BOW DOWN TO MY OWN ABILITY AND MY OWN COMMON SENSE...Again unless you're a doctor...please keep your opinions to your bloody self.
So only doctors should share their opinions on the MFP forum?
o.O
I'm not entirely sure you completely understand how the MFP forum works.0 -
I mainly worry about how much time I've put in. I rarely assume that MFP calories are correct, which is why I only eat back a third to half of the exercise calories alloted by MFP. I sooooo want a HRM, so I can get a more accurate calorie burn. The one I want is almost a hundred bucks, though. It's gonna have to wait a while. *SIGH*0
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I once burned 800 calories lifting my remote to flip the channel. True story.
Awesome burn. WTG.0 -
Push yourself as hard as possible every workout and the numbers don't even matter. If you are working as hard as you can you are going to see the results you want. Just don't eat like a complete idiot afterwards
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HRMs are a different story, I agree...its the people that say they burned 600 calories walking for 30 minutes and Im like...WHAAAATTT?!! Lol
Why do you believe that's impossible? I keep my pace up and not only sweat like a crazy man during my walks, I'm still pouring for 20 mins when I get back to my desk.
But why not use whatever numbers you want, and if you're reaching your weight loss goals, keep using it? I'm also noticing a trend where men seem to believe they've burned more calories than MFP states, and women swear they've burned less. I'm definitely in the "MFP is too low" camp.
As a side note, I'm not sure why so many people are willing to take the number from a HRM as gospel. When it comes to calories burned, they've been shown to vary widely in accuracy. They aren't giving you a real number, after all. They are using an algorithm, the same as the elliptical or treadmill, and the same as MFP. Different algorithms, but all are still a best guess based on what an average person would burn.
Men suck, hehe, my husband always get such awesome burn numbers from doing the same thing I am :PPPPP hehehe.
But you are spot on to say that MFP numbers are not real numbers nor are set in stone.0
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