YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS! : help please.

blueandigo

I need to know a estimate of what I am burning because I don't have a HRM as they are a little too pricey for me. I hate not logging in my exercising because even when I do exercise I still tend to only eat my 1560 calories, but I know I have burned calories for exercising.

Today my estimate according to mfp is 726, but it is baffling to me that I burned 201 calories biking for 20 minutes at 12-16mph. I also did my 4 miles jog/run which took me 31 minutes and it said I burned 525 calories. I also used my neighbours total body gym for 5 minutes in between.

I am 20, 167-170lbs and my average heart rate when using a hrm is 150-165. My peak is 210 which lasts for 2-3 minutes.

Someone please help me with an estimate of what I may roughly burn.

This website's terrible engineering has managed to make me angry, so please don't give me the run around. Thank you.

chlorisaann

Wondering about this too.... so BUMP!!


I found another similar post here:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/649233-mfp-s-calories-burnt

SARgirl

I don't know if this will help you or not but I have a HRM and when I do a cycle class at the gym I burn around 500 - 550 calories for an hour class. I'm 34 and weigh 129. The numbers MFP gave you seem a little high but are probably not too far off. I would say if you are concerned about eating all those calories back then shoot for eating back half or so of them.

jasonheyd

Not sure how helpful this will be, but I've pulled together a Google Spreadsheet based on the Compendium of Physical Activities. You can find it here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al5RZKHzjd6wdG5pTWVVNXV6MnZMZVVlQUNSenFDWkE

In order to use it, you'll need a Google account and you'll need to make a copy of the spreadsheet once you've opened it. To make a copy, just go to "File -> Make a copy" once you've opened the spreadsheet.

To use it, go to the "Enter Your Data Here" sheet at the bottom. Fill in the weight column and the two height columns (there's one column for feet and one for inches) on row 2, under either the "Male" or "Female" columns.

Once you've done that, you can see your BMR & BMI on the 2nd sheet "BMR/BMI Calculations", and you can see an estimate of calories/hour burned by the list of exercises in the first sheet, "Compendium of Physical Activities".

I pulled the formulas for the calculations from a couple of sources on the web so, while I'm not about to guarantee the accuracy, I will say that my Polar HRM's estimates of calories burned are pretty similar to what the spreadsheet estimates.

dirty_blonde

Save every penny you can and invest in a HRM. They are worth the cost I promise. I have a Polar FT4 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It cost about $90 at ****'s sporting goods last year. Money was and is tight for us so I really had to pinch some pennies to get the money to buy it. (I literally cashed in my husbands spare change container that he had been saving for over a year)

Anyway it is awesome and really helps me

mcarter99

It's so much simpler to just enter your 'activity multiplier' as it INCLUDES your exercise and then not worry about estimating workout calories and eating back. Then you get a set calorie goal per day, which has got to be easier for managing as well.

SPNLuver83

I know there are online calculators that can help you figure this out... Try googling "calorie burn calculator"

BenderFitness

I can't speak for everything, but generally 1 mile running=100 calories burned. If there are hills it's a bit higher, but that's the average.

SPNLuver83

It's so much simpler to just enter your 'activity multiplier' as it INCLUDES your exercise and then not worry about estimating workout calories and eating back. Then you get a set calorie goal per day, which has got to be easier for managing as well.

This too. Go to fat2fitradio.com

TexasRattlesnake

Save every penny you can and invest in a HRM. They are worth the cost I promise. I have a Polar FT4 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It cost about $90 at ****'s sporting goods last year. Money was and is tight for us so I really had to pinch some pennies to get the money to buy it. (I literally cashed in my husbands spare change container that he had been saving for over a year)

Anyway it is awesome and really helps me

Ohhhhh... you said a naughty word. LOL

simplydelish2

From my experience MFP estimates calorie burn for exercise way too high. From everything I've read, the average person burns about 10 calories per minute going full out.....the smaller you are...the less you burn. Good luck!

tabulator32

I'll say this...I used to think MFP and Fitbit overestimated my calories almost every day. Despite that, I stuck with the reading it gave me.

Here I am...60 pounds lighter.

Hang in there.

LatinaGordita

I'm 35, 5'1 and about 161 lbs. When I do C25k my average HR is 156, and I peak at 183. In 30 minutes I go about 3.3 miles and burn like 280 cals.

A friend on my MFP list just bought a Polar FT4 for 54$ with shipping. It is worth the investment if you can set aside a couple of dollars a week.

If I did not have a HRM I would aim to eat 1/4 of the cals MFP list. They over estimate for me! Good luck!

graelwyn

I will say mfp is pretty accurate for cycling, for me anyways. My hrm gives me a slightly higher burn, in fact. But it overestimates for walking.

blueandigo

Thank you all so much.

Verity1111

Save every penny you can and invest in a HRM. They are worth the cost I promise. I have a Polar FT4 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it. It cost about $90 at ****'s sporting goods last year. Money was and is tight for us so I really had to pinch some pennies to get the money to buy it. (I literally cashed in my husbands spare change container that he had been saving for over a year)

Anyway it is awesome and really helps me

Ohhhhh... you said a naughty word. LOL

Made my day. lmso

llsand

Not sure how helpful this will be, but I've pulled together a Google Spreadsheet based on the Compendium of Physical Activities. You can find it here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Al5RZKHzjd6wdG5pTWVVNXV6MnZMZVVlQUNSenFDWkE

In order to use it, you'll need a Google account and you'll need to make a copy of the spreadsheet once you've opened it. To make a copy, just go to "File -> Make a copy" once you've opened the spreadsheet.

To use it, go to the "Enter Your Data Here" sheet at the bottom. Fill in the weight column and the two height columns (there's one column for feet and one for inches) on row 2, under either the "Male" or "Female" columns.

Once you've done that, you can see your BMR & BMI on the 2nd sheet "BMR/BMI Calculations", and you can see an estimate of calories/hour burned by the list of exercises in the first sheet, "Compendium of Physical Activities".

I pulled the formulas for the calculations from a couple of sources on the web so, while I'm not about to guarantee the accuracy, I will say that my Polar HRM's estimates of calories burned are pretty similar to what the spreadsheet estimates.

Wow the speadsheet is amazing, thank you very much for that

sandrajune72

Try this site:

http://www.caloriesperhour.com/index_burn.php

bathsheba_c

I would just try to be in touch with your body. Everything on this website is an estimate, from BMR to calories burned. If you are consistently losing a reasonable amount of weight, that's great! If you're not, then start playing around with the numbers until you are. It may take a while to get right, but it's worth it.

hazelovesfood

Its based on your person weight anyway not a average, if you look up on this site you can also get a good idea and it will be close enough.http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc

idiotboy99

I too have found mfp pretty accurate for cycling, having cross referenced with other devices......also try not to eat too few calories! I found that when I did I didn't get the expected weight loss....only when I ate around 100-200 fewer than given on mfp did I get good loss. Counter intuitive, but metabolism slows down a lot if starved. Oh and precision on calorie consumption (in or out) can't -without lab conditions - be a precise science....so don't get to wound up about it - after time you learn what's true.

melaniecheeks

I have to agree with the reminder that calorie burns (and consumption) are all estimates, so aiming for total accuracy will just frustrate you.

Very roughly, I know I burn about 600 cals per hour during intense training, so if I don't have a better measure to hand I'll use that as a starting point.

amy1612

Ive got a cheap watch from ebay that estimates from your weight height and pulse rate how much you burn. Its not a definite number, but for £7 including delivery its not too bad,

cramernh

I need to know a estimate of what I am burning because I don't have a HRM as they are a little too pricey for me. I hate not logging in my exercising because even when I do exercise I still tend to only eat my 1560 calories, but I know I have burned calories for exercising.

Today my estimate according to mfp is 726, but it is baffling to me that I burned 201 calories biking for 20 minutes at 12-16mph. I also did my 4 miles jog/run which took me 31 minutes and it said I burned 525 calories. I also used my neighbours total body gym for 5 minutes in between.

I am 20, 167-170lbs and my average heart rate when using a hrm is 150-165. My peak is 210 which lasts for 2-3 minutes.

Someone please help me with an estimate of what I may roughly burn.

This website's terrible engineering has managed to make me angry, so please don't give me the run around. Thank you.

Helping to estimate is not going to be a full proof method.. that is why an HRM would be needed... AND, if you do some searching on Amazon, they have some amazing low prices on HRM's... That is the only way you are going to get better numbers... Guessing at them, is just guessing and you could easily be making this whole exercise routine a counterproductive experience for yourself.

Save up the money if money is tight. I bought a Polar FT4 wrist band/chest strap set for only 70.00!!! That is really affordable in my books!

Bobby_Clerici

I had to tweak down MFP numbers.
In general I burn from 450 per hour to 700, depending on the activity.
Tennis=600, Calisthenics=450, HIIT=700...and so on.....
I added my own exercises and don't even use MFP numbers at all. At some point you will find your zone and calorie burn becomes second nature.
Good luck!