Calorie Discrepancies- Elliptical, MFP

BirdieNYC

I've read a ton about calorie discrepancies on elliptical machines as well as My Fitness Pal. I read one blog on here that said to reduce the machine readout by 40% (which seemed pretty high!). But I've been doing that lately but I still feel like it's off.

I also read that a ton of people use heart rate monitors to help them calculate their average heart rate during workouts.

So I did an experiment today at the gym- I used a Precor elliptical and put my hands on the metal heart rate readers at intervals, usually every 10 minutes (total work out time was 60 minutes).

Here are the discrepancies:

Machine: 620 calories burned
MFP: 469 calories burned
40% Reduction Method: 384 calories burned

Crazy right? But a bunch of you knew this already, hence the heart rate monitors.

Anyway, so when applying the average heart rate that I read at 10-minute intervals (177 bpm) into the following calculator, it said my calories burned was... 780 calories (gross calories) and 720 (net calories)
Calculator for Gross: http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx
Calculator for Net: http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn-conversion-calculator.aspx

First off- did anyone know there was a difference between gross and net calories burned?? Crazy! Here's an article on it:
http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/articles/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn.aspx

Secondly, do you think this calorie calculator is accurate? I wonder if anyone could do a test based on their activity tracking using a heart rate monitor. Once you get the average heart rate, plug it in to the calories and see if it's accurate.

If it is, this could be a great alternative to those who don't have the means to pony up for a heart rate monitor!

kellyconcarne

BEST CALCULATOR EVER! I've been scouring the earth trying to find one that lets you put in weight, age, time AND heart rate. Looks like the NET reading lets you add your age too. PRIMO!