Things that make you go...Hmmmm....(outrageous calorie burn)
Replies
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Whenever I have a huge burn day I think people think that about me. But the burn rate for an hour's jogging would be about 800 for me, so I don't think the MFP 400 for badminton is way out of line. I tested with my HRM but it gave me loads more cals (stupid numbers) so I'm super suspicious of that. So for two hours badminton, less fifteen minutes of faffing about between games, that's 700, plus four miles of walking to and from for another 200 or so... it's a lot. Then I try mostly to eat half my exercise cals. I've got MFP set to lose a pound a week; I'm actually losing about 1.5 pounds a week on average. So, yeah, that would reflect 1750 cals a week of underestimate, feels just about right.
But still, the day I logged 1400 calories I thought 'well, nobody will believe that, it's insane'.
In general I don't think I can burn more than about 600 calories an hour no matter how hard I try. I'm in awe of people who can.
What I am suspicious of is the MFP rates for slow walking, gardening, housework and so on.0 -
Sometimes, I blame the MFP calculator. I use rock-climbing as my main exercise of choice. Usually, I am at the gym for at least 2 hours rock climbing. If I log those 2 hours though, MFP says I burned between 1500 calories or more. Doubting this, I usually shave off 30 minutes to account for the time I spend on the ground, but it still seems too much.
If I were to assume that MFP was giving me a completely accurate burn, I would be eating a lot. I'm looking into buying a HRM so that I can get a better idea of what I burned during a workout.
I guess, what I'm saying is that they may just be taking MFP's numbers for face value and assume they are spot on.
I haven't yet done it with an HRM (the watch is so cumbersome), but you DO burn a pretty incredible amount of calories doing things like rock climbing, bouldering, and/or swimming.
I hook it around my sports bra strap and it doesn't bother me. I HATE wearing it on my wrist.
I'm confused on how it tracks your heart rate if it isn't actually connected to a pulse point? Not judging just asking.
I have a chest strap for mine and I wouldn't have it any other way.0 -
totally understand this. i see it on my news feed sometimes and its like "really?" their exercise was "walking for 15minutes at a brisk pace and they burn 450 calories" or something along those insane lines. im like really? i just spent 30 minutes at the y on my lunchbreak on a crosstrainer busting my *kitten*, hard breathing, major resistance, and i burnt 450....0
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Have you been waiting all day to post that picture? Jelly of who?? Someone who is logging 300 calories for croqueting and not losing a single lb? Not so much! Thanks for the concern though! lol
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absolutely!! When I add exercise I purposefully make it less than I really did because I don't have an HRM thus cannot be accurate.
What I am the most paranoid about however is the calories for some foods. For example popcorn. When I looked it up I couldn't believe the calories on movie theater butter were so low so I didn't eat much after that because I was convinced it was lying lol
Popcorn is low cal... but high sodium and fat. That's where they get you :P0 -
I log some pretty big burns, but I use a heart rate monitor for accuracy. I also haven't weighted myself in over a month, I am basing my success on how my clothes fit (which is much much better). So my weight doesn't change on here and I have big burns. Most of my friends on here know that I don't own a scale anymore and they know I use a HRM so I don't worry about it.
How can your HRM give you an accurate calorie burn without knowing your weight?0 -
I log some pretty big burns, but I use a heart rate monitor for accuracy. I also haven't weighted myself in over a month, I am basing my success on how my clothes fit (which is much much better). So my weight doesn't change on here and I have big burns. Most of my friends on here know that I don't own a scale anymore and they know I use a HRM so I don't worry about it.
How can your HRM give you an accurate calorie burn without knowing your weight?
Mine does know my weight. It knows my height, weight, age and gender.0 -
Sometimes, I blame the MFP calculator. I use rock-climbing as my main exercise of choice. Usually, I am at the gym for at least 2 hours rock climbing. If I log those 2 hours though, MFP says I burned between 1500 calories or more. Doubting this, I usually shave off 30 minutes to account for the time I spend on the ground, but it still seems too much.
If I were to assume that MFP was giving me a completely accurate burn, I would be eating a lot. I'm looking into buying a HRM so that I can get a better idea of what I burned during a workout.
I guess, what I'm saying is that they may just be taking MFP's numbers for face value and assume they are spot on.
I haven't yet done it with an HRM (the watch is so cumbersome), but you DO burn a pretty incredible amount of calories doing things like rock climbing, bouldering, and/or swimming.
I hook it around my sports bra strap and it doesn't bother me. I HATE wearing it on my wrist.
Does that do it as accurately?! I would love to start wearing it like that because it drives me crazy on my wrist, too!
If it has a chest strap the watch part is just a receiver, you can wear it anywhere (as long as it's close to you- like not in your gym bag at home) and get the same accuracy.0 -
I log some pretty big burns, but I use a heart rate monitor for accuracy. I also haven't weighted myself in over a month, I am basing my success on how my clothes fit (which is much much better). So my weight doesn't change on here and I have big burns. Most of my friends on here know that I don't own a scale anymore and they know I use a HRM so I don't worry about it.
How can your HRM give you an accurate calorie burn without knowing your weight?
Mine does know my weight. It knows my height, weight, age and gender.
You just said you don't weigh yourself?0 -
Sometimes, I blame the MFP calculator. I use rock-climbing as my main exercise of choice. Usually, I am at the gym for at least 2 hours rock climbing. If I log those 2 hours though, MFP says I burned between 1500 calories or more. Doubting this, I usually shave off 30 minutes to account for the time I spend on the ground, but it still seems too much.
If I were to assume that MFP was giving me a completely accurate burn, I would be eating a lot. I'm looking into buying a HRM so that I can get a better idea of what I burned during a workout.
I guess, what I'm saying is that they may just be taking MFP's numbers for face value and assume they are spot on.
I haven't yet done it with an HRM (the watch is so cumbersome), but you DO burn a pretty incredible amount of calories doing things like rock climbing, bouldering, and/or swimming.
I hook it around my sports bra strap and it doesn't bother me. I HATE wearing it on my wrist.
Does that do it as accurately?! I would love to start wearing it like that because it drives me crazy on my wrist, too!
If it has a chest strap the watch part is just a receiver, you can wear it anywhere (as long as it's close to you- like not in your gym bag at home) and get the same accuracy.
This is a cool idea, I never thought about that.0 -
I log some pretty big burns, but I use a heart rate monitor for accuracy. I also haven't weighted myself in over a month, I am basing my success on how my clothes fit (which is much much better). So my weight doesn't change on here and I have big burns. Most of my friends on here know that I don't own a scale anymore and they know I use a HRM so I don't worry about it.
How can your HRM give you an accurate calorie burn without knowing your weight?
Mine does know my weight. It knows my height, weight, age and gender.
You just said you don't weigh yourself?
Well it knows my weight as of a month ago, and it will know my weight as of Dec 1st again. Decided once a month weighing is more than enough.0 -
Have you been waiting all day to post that picture? Jelly of who?? Someone who is logging 300 calories for croqueting and not losing a single lb? Not so much! Thanks for the concern though! lol
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I'm sure I'm one of those people since I just use the MFP numbers but:
I don't log anything that is a normal part of my day, just if I actually go to the gym or for a run
I don't usually eat all of my exercise calories back
I'm still losing weight
I figure that if I get to a plateau, I will get more serious about weighing my food and accurately counting my exercise calories.
BTW, what's the difference between an HRM and a fitbit?0 -
Sometimes, I blame the MFP calculator. I use rock-climbing as my main exercise of choice. Usually, I am at the gym for at least 2 hours rock climbing. If I log those 2 hours though, MFP says I burned between 1500 calories or more. Doubting this, I usually shave off 30 minutes to account for the time I spend on the ground, but it still seems too much.
If I were to assume that MFP was giving me a completely accurate burn, I would be eating a lot. I'm looking into buying a HRM so that I can get a better idea of what I burned during a workout.
I guess, what I'm saying is that they may just be taking MFP's numbers for face value and assume they are spot on.
I haven't yet done it with an HRM (the watch is so cumbersome), but you DO burn a pretty incredible amount of calories doing things like rock climbing, bouldering, and/or swimming.
I hook it around my sports bra strap and it doesn't bother me. I HATE wearing it on my wrist.
Does that do it as accurately?! I would love to start wearing it like that because it drives me crazy on my wrist, too!
If it has a chest strap the watch part is just a receiver, you can wear it anywhere (as long as it's close to you- like not in your gym bag at home) and get the same accuracy.
Yesssss! Thank you so much!0 -
Fitbit is an all day thing, like an advanced pedometer. Tracks all your daily movement and activity. Not great for workouts other than walking or running.I'm sure I'm one of those people since I just use the MFP numbers but:
I don't log anything that is a normal part of my day, just if I actually go to the gym or for a run
I don't usually eat all of my exercise calories back
I'm still losing weight
I figure that if I get to a plateau, I will get more serious about weighing my food and accurately counting my exercise calories.
BTW, what's the difference between an HRM and a fitbit?
HRM is better for getting a workout burn estimate, inaccurate if worn all day, can't get accurate numbers for things other than aerobic cardio.0 -
HRM is far more reliable than any preset number mfp has set....
with my hrm my numbers are higher than what they have when it comes to weight training.
The cardio numbers seem some what close, but still exaggerated.
but agreed, sometimes I see posts like walked 3.0 speed for an hour, 600+ cal burn....& I wonder if they were hiking up a mountain carrying 50lbs of gear because thats almost too awesome! lol0 -
I logged my non-stop 60 minute Tae Bo workout and got some sort of outrageous number of calories burned. Yes, I weigh a ton, but there's no way it burned that many.
I just shrug and ignore it. I never eat back my exercise calories anyway.0 -
It may be that you're seeing someone who posted a bunch of activities at the same time, so it'll say something like "so n so burned 1643 calories doing 240 minutes of cardiovascular exercise including vacuuming"... when in actuality that person posted the following:
120 minutes running @ 10 min/mile pace
60 minutes weight training
45 minutes yard work
15 minutes vacuuming
... but it will look like a claim for 240 minutes of vacuuming. That is an MFP technical fail imo.0 -
It may be that you're seeing someone who posted a bunch of activities at the same time, so it'll say something like "so n so burned 1643 calories doing 240 minutes of cardiovascular exercise including vacuuming"... when in actuality that person posted the following:
120 minutes running @ 10 min/mile pace
60 minutes weight training
45 minutes yard work
15 minutes vacuuming
... but it will look like a claim for 240 minutes of vacuuming. That is an MFP technical fail imo.
really good point.0 -
i'm 6'3" and about 225lbs. if i'm pushing myself for an hour, i can burn a lot. i also had an HRM that greatly over estimated my burns.0
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Well there is a girl I know and she is in the army.... she is an officer...early 30's and they are hardcore. She has a lot of muscle but she also has love handles and a good amount of fat and never loses weight. Just because someone is bigger doesn't mean they are out of shape. She is in great shape and bigger. I guess what I'm saying is that everyone burns differently and looks different.0
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I think the soapbox enjoyed being mounted... maybe you should get back on?0
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Have you been waiting all day to post that picture? Jelly of who?? Someone who is logging 300 calories for croqueting and not losing a single lb? Not so much! Thanks for the concern though! lol
I could totally burn 300 calories playing croquet. I've burned 3000 on a single run before (and I used the MFP estimates, because I don't trust my HRM).0 -
Only when they log mowing the lawn on a riding lawn mower.0
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I am stopping using walking as an exercise on MFP. I record my gym exercises now as it knows my height, weight etc and I think it is more accurate. Going to get a HRM too to be extra accurate! Thats why I don't eat all my exercise calories back.0
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The MFP estimates are soooooo far off, though. After buying a HRM I found that what MFP was telling me was usually at least double what I was actually burning. So if they're going by MFP, they'll definitely be off. Hopefully they're not eating back their calories they've "burned", though! :S0
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HRM is far more reliable than any preset number mfp has set....
with my hrm my numbers are higher than what they have when it comes to weight training.
The cardio numbers seem some what close, but still exaggerated.
HRM do not measure calories burned correctly while doing strength training, or some "cardio". They are for aerobic exercise only. Stuff like HIIT, uphill running or other high intensity cardio could easily become anaerobic and also measure incorrectly.0 -
It may be that you're seeing someone who posted a bunch of activities at the same time, so it'll say something like "so n so burned 1643 calories doing 240 minutes of cardiovascular exercise including vacuuming"... when in actuality that person posted the following:
120 minutes running @ 10 min/mile pace
60 minutes weight training
45 minutes yard work
15 minutes vacuuming
... but it will look like a claim for 240 minutes of vacuuming. That is an MFP technical fail imo.
Yeah, I understand this but I see their diaries and know what they are posting. I just think ppl should not rely on the MFP calculations and get educated about how calories are actually burned and what factors affect how you burn...like weight, gender, etc. We are not all built the same. ;O)0 -
completely agree! i blame it on mfp... when you enter the time u've done a workout, it calculates it for you. that's why i encourage everyone to get an hrm. just bc you did sit ups for 10 min means u consistently did them w/o stopping to burn 100 cal... :grumble:0
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The best approach is to ignore it, if it bothers you that much that is what the delete button is for.
Usually posts like these come from a place of jealousy or regret, they are annoyed when they see GREAT JOB on a 1500 calorie burn when it is obvious that the person is not being accurate. Offer your best advice if you truly think you can "help them" other than that dont complain just delete or ignore it.
I saw it a lot when I first started with MFP but I just realized that if I saw someone logged in for 100 days or so and they were still doing it they were in all sorts of denial and there is nothing you can do to "help " them.
I saw people who were 325lbs + logging two hours of swimming vigorous effort which is like a 3k burn. I am sorry but that is not accurate, people at that weight ( I know I was at 370) are not capable of doing that.
In every instance I saw, the person inevitably failed. They were not being honest with themselves. Myfitnesspal is not a magic cure, it basically just keeps you on track, the honesty part is completely up to the user, if they are not honest this is a useless tool and they are going to fail every time. When they come to grips with it and can actively admit freely to themselves they have a problem they will be successful but until then..0
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