Working out but losing little calories

R3b3ccaa
R3b3ccaa Posts: 9 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been working out on my elliptical and I usually do about 35 to 40 min per day. When I am finished it says that I have only burned about 130 calories. I feel like I work my but off and go at an average speed of 12. I'm not really seeing a difference in my weight and I have cut down my calories to about 1200 per day. How can I burn more calories on my elliptical without killing myself on it?

Replies

  • alexisu96
    alexisu96 Posts: 103 Member
    Does the machine say this or do you use a heart rate monitor?
  • LGinSoCal
    LGinSoCal Posts: 21 Member
    That *might* be but you don't stop burning calories once you step off the machine. Although calories consumed numbers are a helpful guide, you can get too attached to them and lose focus on what your ultimate goal is. If you can afford it, get a heart rate monitor that straps to your chest. I use a Polar F7 or at least I think it is an F7, it's the least expensive one that counts calories burned during exercise.

    Chin up!
  • alexisu96
    alexisu96 Posts: 103 Member
    Re-read your post id the machine is sayinf that i am almost certain it wrong.
    Even at lowest level my oulse is at 120 or so. Dont knowmyr weight. But the machine is saying a real low number.
  • Shes1CraftyMama
    Shes1CraftyMama Posts: 152 Member
    Two things,
    1. get a heart rate monitor and
    2. Up your cals don't lower them your body needs more fuel when you exercise. A big mistake a lot of people make when they plateau is to lower cals. Try upping them 100-200 above what MFP put them and you may start seeing results

    Finally on another note, elliptical machines are not high impact and are made to be a softer workout, this will cause your body to burn less regardless. Try throwing in some weights here and there, and you will see your cals burned jump!

    GOOD LUCK!
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    Your body will become accustomed to working out when you are using cardio exercises. Your heart gets more and more efficient and it will take longer and longer to get the same burn. The link below will give you some information about doing only cardio to lose weight. Good luck.

    http://www.theiflife.com/cardio-priority-fat-loss/
  • alexisu96
    alexisu96 Posts: 103 Member
    Supid ipad keyboard typos.
  • judykat7
    judykat7 Posts: 576 Member
    On my elliptical with arms. I go 20 minutes, stay around or above 60rpm and both my machine and MFP say I burn about 230. That is getting with it though. I am tuckered and drenched at the end. But I am new to it and have worked up to the 20. I do it all at once, not breaking it up through the day.
  • DrMAvDPhD
    DrMAvDPhD Posts: 2,097 Member
    Are you using resistance? I agree with others dating buy a HRM, too
  • Kristinemomof3
    Kristinemomof3 Posts: 636 Member
    Eat more!
  • LokiOfAsgard
    LokiOfAsgard Posts: 378 Member
    That's about how many MFP says I burn when I go for a half-hour walk. But everyone says using your own monitor is way more accurate. Either way, don't give yup!
    And make sure you're eating your calories so that you net 1,200 at least.
    You might even have to up that some. :)
  • R3b3ccaa
    R3b3ccaa Posts: 9 Member
    Thanks for the comments. I use the calorie count on the elliptical. I do the 35-40 min straight through without breaks and I push it hard speeding up as fast as I can at times. I think I will look into getting something to check the calories and pulse rate besides the machine. I will also be adding weights into my workouts when I can. Thank you again everyone.
  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    i have a elliptical at home too and i use it and burn around the same as you. I use a HRM too and i never burn over 150 cals ever in 30-40 min... i try upping levels and pace but i just never burn more then 150..
  • Markguns
    Markguns Posts: 554 Member
    Thanks for the comments. I use the calorie count on the elliptical. I do the 35-40 min straight through without breaks and I push it hard speeding up as fast as I can at times. I think I will look into getting something to check the calories and pulse rate besides the machine. I will also be adding weights into my workouts when I can. Thank you again everyone.

    Late to the show but...

    1. Get a HRM, (Heart Rate Monitor) I recommend one with a chest strap, generally more accurate. I have a Bruer, about $50 from Costco Online. http://www.costco.com/Heart-Rate-Monitor-by-beurer.product.11667204.html
    2. Speed on the elliptical isn't the key, Beats per minute is (Heart Rate)
    3. Go to this site for HR calculators, cal burned , etc... http://www.shapesense.com/
    4. Work up to where you can exercise at 80% of your MHR for 40 mins. (you can do this with weights if you want, again to burn caloires incerase HR. Muscle mass helps burn calories throughout the day. Try doing the circuit at your gym with min rest between sets.)
    5. Oh and read this http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/articles/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn.aspx

    Keep Trucking :bigsmile:
  • Phaedra2014
    Phaedra2014 Posts: 1,254 Member
    I have been working out on my elliptical and I usually do about 35 to 40 min per day. When I am finished it says that I have only burned about 130 calories. I feel like I work my but off and go at an average speed of 12. I'm not really seeing a difference in my weight and I have cut down my calories to about 1200 per day. How can I burn more calories on my elliptical without killing myself on it?

    Don't do the elliptical. Strength train.
  • ApexLeader
    ApexLeader Posts: 580 Member
    Two things,
    1. get a heart rate monitor and
    2. Up your cals don't lower them your body needs more fuel when you exercise. A big mistake a lot of people make when they plateau is to lower cals. Try upping them 100-200 above what MFP put them and you may start seeing results

    Finally on another note, elliptical machines are not high impact and are made to be a softer workout, this will cause your body to burn less regardless. Try throwing in some weights here and there, and you will see your cals burned jump!

    GOOD LUCK!

    pretty much everything you just wrote is wrong except the heart rate monitor part, which is good advice.
  • Markguns
    Markguns Posts: 554 Member
    Thanks for the comments. I use the calorie count on the elliptical. I do the 35-40 min straight through without breaks and I push it hard speeding up as fast as I can at times. I think I will look into getting something to check the calories and pulse rate besides the machine. I will also be adding weights into my workouts when I can. Thank you again everyone.

    Sounds like you're in your home not a gym so look up some body weight exercises to do if you don't have access to weights. Again keep your HR at that 80% level, that will burn off the calories and the resitance training will offset te cardio so you don't lose muscle along with the fat. :wink:

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