2 days, 3 sets of calories burned #s, which is accurate?

kbd388

I have been using a pedometer to track my calories burned during my workouts and it has been suggested to me that my calories burned number is high. So, I did an experiment, and now have no idea which number to use.

My workout for both days:
Treadmill
45 minutes
1.0 incline
4.0 mph

Day 1:
242 Treadmill
360 Pedometer
620 HRM

Day 2:
253 Treadmill
362 Pedometer
646 HRM

Interestingly enough, the calories calculated by MFP match the calories the treadmill calculated.

I enter my weight into the pedometer and HRM, but not the treadmill.

Thanks!

Jynus

use the lowest.

kbd388

use the lowest.

and return the fancy gadgets

mcarter99

Does your HRM have a chest strap? Are you working really hard at going that speed? If not, that burn looks awfully high. Most non-obese people don't burn more than 10 calories/min. at their highest heart rates. I don't know how big you are.

gayje

use the lowest.

^^^^^ this. I would use the lowest burn also. I would rather be under in my estimate than over. Especially since I have a tendancy to eat back some of my exercise calories.

kbd388

Does your HRM have a chest strap? Are you working really hard at going that speed? If not, that burn looks awfully high. Most non-obese people don't burn more than 10 calories/min. at their highest heart rates. I don't know how big you are.

It does have a chest strap, I have it on in the correct place, it is easy for me to walk at this speed (I can talk, sing, etc....but sweat a lot). I'm 5'8" and weigh 201 (started at 231) so I am considered obese trying to change that!

kbd388

Any other thoughts on why there is such a wide range here? It makes it difficult to figure out how much I'm really burning! I guess I could just eat my calories and not worry about the burn, but if I'm really burning 620 calories then I'm not netting enough.

scottb81

You were walking so I imagine that the actual number is somewhere between the pedometer and treadmill number. The HRM number looks way to high. As you gain fitness your HR will drop and the HRM number will be more in line with the others.