Calories on MFP vs Calories on Machines

amy709

Hi all,

I'm just curious for your thoughts on whether the cardio machines are a better guage for calorie expenditure rather than what MFP tells you.
For example, I was on the elliptical this morning and for 30 min MFP tells me 412 calories. However my machine tells me 350.
I had a HRM but got a new computer and now it won't connect so I'm not sure which one to take.

Any help/advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

krissy_krossy

I don't have a HRM yet, so when I use cardio machines I go by the average heart rate that it tells me and calculate it on my own. They seem to overestimate both on MFP and on the machines at the gym, esp. since even the ones that ask for weight don't have an input for gender or height.

palmerar

Make sure you are setting your actual weight on the machine you're using. Most exercise equipment is automatically set for 150lbs, and that alters calories burned. MFP uses the wight you have in your settings to calculate an estimate of calories burned...so basically both are estimates and should be about the same if weight is entered correctly. I use a HRM and my calorie burn is usually higher because it calculates heart rate during activity plus an accurate weight measurement. Although I think sometimes my HRM gives too high of a reading in which case I don't eat back all exercise calories, but make sure I feel satisfied. I think the most important thing is to keep your weight settings accurate, weigh yourself every week and input the information.

amy709

Thanks!
Yeah I think they overestimate a lot as well.
I did input my weight into the machine and I have my weight on MFP so I would "hope" that it is close to accurate but I sometimes just find that they overestimate too much. My armband was really accurate but I can't use it right now so oh well.
I guess the best thing is just to keep my calories to my daily intake and try not to "eat" my exercise calories like was mentioned.

Much appreciated!