Treadmill v. Online Calorie counters

katicasi82
katicasi82 Posts: 121 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,

When I work out on the treadmill it tells me that I burn 230 calories, when i input my workout into http://www.healthstatus.com/ it calculates the calories burned to be 556...I am 5'5 and weigh 200lbs, I don't have a HRM (yet). Which is more accurate MFP?

Thanks you guys,

K

Replies

  • Hendrix7
    Hendrix7 Posts: 1,903 Member
    Both are unreliable....but assuming the treadmill took account of height/age/weight and took your heart rate then it's probably closer to the truth
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    No method is ever going to be exact. When trying to work it into your diet, its always better to estimate as low as possible so you dont eat more then you should. I personally never worry about calories burned from exercise because its just too variable.
  • Discoveri
    Discoveri Posts: 435 Member
    Both are unreliable....but assuming the treadmill took account of height/age/weight and took your heart rate then it's probably closer to the truth

    This^. If you work out at a gym, see if you can borrow a HRM from the trainers (my gym usually keeps a few in their office for people to try them out for a week or so).
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    I have always exercised and haven't lost weight just by doing it. I think all the programs overestimate how many calories you burn, so I try not to worry about it and if I have exercised and am really hungry, I allow myself an extra 200 calories above my resting calorie burn. It seems to work well.
  • robinhardysmall
    robinhardysmall Posts: 246 Member
    I used to count what the treadmill said~ however I think it overestimated~ therefore I bought a heart-rate monitor and it is about 100 calories less than the treadmill.

    I would maybe drop it by about 20-30% of what the machine says- just my opinion though.
  • kgprice11
    kgprice11 Posts: 749 Member
    Neither I would take the lower number though because it benefits your weight loss
  • BigDaddyBRC
    BigDaddyBRC Posts: 2,395 Member
    Please use the search feature in the future.

    Get an HRM with chest strap

    /endthread
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    There have been studies that show treadmills to over estimate calories by 20%-40%.
  • katicasi82
    katicasi82 Posts: 121 Member
    Thanks guys, I'll take the lower of the two until i get a HRM!
This discussion has been closed.