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Calories burned... I don't get it?

lizapettit
lizapettit Posts: 166 Member
edited January 4 in Fitness and Exercise
OK, so I am constantly reading that calorie calculators are EXTREMELY inaccurate. And I do wonder if endomondo (I have it synced with MFP) is overestimating sometimes. For example, on Thursday I ran (average 13 min/miles I think) 3 miles, walked 2, then ran another mile and it gave me a calorie burn of 1,177 and the duration was about 90 minutes. I am a female, just under 5'9 and weigh about 212. I am a new runner and I'm really heavy, so it was definitely hard work!

So my question is... what do you think would be a more accurate calorie burn for this? And are there ANY calculators on the web that are accurate? I started running/working out so I can eat a little more while trying to lose weight, so I'd like it to be as close as possible.

Replies

  • Yolanda4160
    Yolanda4160 Posts: 170 Member
    I calculated mine on www.healthstatus.com. I have no idea how accurate it is, but I heard from so many people how the exercises weren't accurate on MFP. Then I just saved them under My Exercises so it was easier to log in again later. I really want to get an Polar HRM
  • lizapettit
    lizapettit Posts: 166 Member
    I calculated mine on www.healthstatus.com. I have no idea how accurate it is, but I heard from so many people how the exercises weren't accurate on MFP. Then I just saved them under My Exercises so it was easier to log in again later. I really want to get an Polar HRM

    Well I actually use Endomondo, and after a workout, it will sync the workout with MFP. Not sure if that makes a difference? According to that site you gave me, the same workout would have burned 20 more cals than endomondo said, so maybe it's just because I'm so BIG! hahahaha :)
  • Yolanda4160
    Yolanda4160 Posts: 170 Member
    :laugh: now you have me curious! I need to see how Endomondo calculates my workouts!
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Does not sound too far out to me....I'm 5'8, 179lbs and burn around 1000 cal (on my HRM) when running for 90 mins...Mostly running (slow) with about eight one minute walk breaks in between....
  • lizapettit
    lizapettit Posts: 166 Member
    Does not sound too far out to me....I'm 5'8, 179lbs and burn around 1000 cal (on my HRM) when running for 90 mins...Mostly running (slow) with about eight one minute walk breaks in between....

    Oh good! That makes me feel better. I'm going to have to break down and get one :grumble:
  • WVmom24
    WVmom24 Posts: 266 Member
    I also have head that MFP overestimates the calories burned so my strategy has been to not eat all of my extra calories it allows me from exercise. :P
  • astrampe
    astrampe Posts: 2,169 Member
    Does not sound too far out to me....I'm 5'8, 179lbs and burn around 1000 cal (on my HRM) when running for 90 mins...Mostly running (slow) with about eight one minute walk breaks in between....

    Oh good! That makes me feel better. I'm going to have to break down and get one :grumble:

    Got a Garmin 110 gps/hrm last year for Christmas - the best present ever! I just love it....Worth every cent...
  • DebbieLyn63
    DebbieLyn63 Posts: 2,654 Member
    OK, so I am constantly reading that calorie calculators are EXTREMELY inaccurate. And I do wonder if endomondo (I have it synced with MFP) is overestimating sometimes. For example, on Thursday I ran (average 13 min/miles I think) 3 miles, walked 2, then ran another mile and it gave me a calorie burn of 1,177 and the duration was about 90 minutes. I am a female, just under 5'9 and weigh about 212. I am a new runner and I'm really heavy, so it was definitely hard work!

    So my question is... what do you think would be a more accurate calorie burn for this? And are there ANY calculators on the web that are accurate? I started running/working out so I can eat a little more while trying to lose weight, so I'd like it to be as close as possible.

    I use a Polar FT4 HRM. I am 203 lbs, 5'6", so for comparison. Today I rode my recumbent trike around the block, up and down hills, 4.25 miles in 35 minutes. My Max HR was 150, and average HR 136. I was breathing really hard the whole time, and would not have been able to keep a continuous conversation going. In 35 minutes I burned 266 calories, so that's a little more than 500 calories per hour. MFP would have given me twice that burn. The burns I get from my HRM are more accurate and are in line with my weight loss rate.
    If your heart rate was around the same as mine was, then it would probably be about 750 calories for the 90 minutes. Of course there's no way to say for sure, but that would be my estimate for you, as we are similar weight. Since you are 3 inches taller, then your LBM is higher than mine, so you probably burned a little more than that.

    ETA, after reading some other reports from runners, sounds like your reported burn is probably more accurate. I can't run, so you probably get a higher heart rate than I get on my trike.

    BTW I love my Polar HRM. Found it from a dealer on Ebay for around $50.
  • BrawlerBella
    BrawlerBella Posts: 400 Member
    Endomondo gives you a gross Calorie burn. That may be why you thing the numbers are higher. Most calculators give you Net calories burned.
  • jeme3
    jeme3 Posts: 355 Member
    I have heard that MFP over estimates calories burned, but I have checked against other sources, and it's all pretty close.

    I eat almost all my exercise calories and as of this morning, I'm down 28 pounds since the beginning of September, so it's close enough.
  • pixietoes
    pixietoes Posts: 1,591 Member
    Somethings on MFP are way too high for me. My Polar seems to be very faithful, it knows EXACTLY how hard I'm working and what its worth. :)
  • EnderNC
    EnderNC Posts: 383 Member
    Calorie burn is very hard to measure, but there is a way to measure it yourself. A lot of calorie burn has to do with our VO2 max, or how much oxygen our body is taking in and using effectively. Use the equation for the MET scale to measure accurate calorie burn.

    Total Calories Burned = Duration (in minutes) x (MET x 3.5 x weight in kg)/200

    The "MET" Value can be found in the MET compendia which can be found here:

    https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/compendia

    Hope this helps!
  • tjs616
    tjs616 Posts: 51 Member
    It could be correct. MFP and other online calculators can't estimate your level of exertion. How did you feel? Could you carry on a conversation at any point in time? If so, it is most likely off. I've had a heart rate monitor since I was 330 or so (250 now) and the only time I've ever seen it give me a burn averaging that high for an extended period was when I was out of breath (I mean panting wheezing, lung whistling, the whole deal) for an hour during boot camp. Most exercises, including running, I usually average right around 10-11 cals per minute. Your results may vary :)
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