Not burning enough cals on elliptical compared to others??

Inked2Love
Inked2Love Posts: 48
in Fitness and Exercise
Okay not sure where to post this so here goes. Im wondering how or why I am not burning the same intensity of cals as I see alotta ppl on here burn doing the same activity. I know its based on heart rate, weight, age etc but I go based off of my BodyMedia Fit and have also used a regular HRM in the past. I am almost 5'7", 29 yrs old and right now i weigh 168. Normally I weigh 138-140 but I am 6 wks post partum. I still had this issue even before pregnancy tho. I typically do the elliptical as my form of cardio due to the fact that its hard for me to run on a treadmill. I usually burn 300 cals in 30 mins. I do a higher incline and sometimes change the resistance. I def dont do a light workout. Anyways... how come Im seeing others who are similar in size and age... burn twice that? How can I get my heartrate furth up and burn more? My heart rate high end has been 168.

Kay hope this all makes sense. I have 20 lbs to lose til my mini goal and would like to get back to 138 eventually... Thanks for everyones input :) And please dont say it has to do with the pregnancy or horomones because it doesnt... i worked out through most of my pregnancy and before and have been workin out since 3 weeks post partum. Plus as I said.. I had the issue previously.. Just lookin for advise on how to burn more :)

Replies

  • jawheb
    jawheb Posts: 295 Member
    Machines never give right information. I always have this problem. I use 3 different devices and then just average it between the 3. I use elliptical calculation, Nike+running and an apple app that calculates calories burned using weight, pace activity.
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    For your age and size I'd say 300 for 30 mins on the elliptical sounds about right. What is your average heart rate while you're on it? I'm assuming probably 140-150 average.

    Maybe the other people are just way overestimating? Also keep in mind, a larger person can burn a lot more. I burn 600ish in 30 mins but I am a large male (using a Polar FT60) whereas my wife gets about half that (using the same model HRM) and she's around your size.
  • Tishy78
    Tishy78 Posts: 108 Member
    This is pretty much where I hit as well. I am a bit heavier than you and have a few additional years, but 5'6.5. I just finished 30 mins and my HRM declares that I burned 302 calories. I increase resistance and feel like I'm working hard. But I rarely get my heart rate over 165. I usually average about 155-160.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    When I first started using the elliptical I naively used the readout on the machine because I didn't know any better. Months and months later, I got an HRM and found that the machine had been telling me hundreds of calories over what the HRM did. I can remember recording caloric burns in the 800-900 range for what was about 60 minutes of elliptical time, when I really burn 400-500 on the elliptical in that amount of time.

    So it's likely that you are seeing the same thing happen with your friends.
  • perdie7
    perdie7 Posts: 266 Member
    that is about the same as I burn.
  • Inked2Love
    Inked2Love Posts: 48
    Lol okay I feel better now! Im like "I know Im not like taking a sunday stroll on this thing so whats the deal?". Lol. I believe my heart rate gets to like 168 max is what ive seen at the gym. My old HRM broke and then I bought the BodyMedia Fit cuz I like that I can wear it all day and see what I burn etc. Its pretty accurate from what I can tell..however it doesnt really tell my heart rate so I just go based off the gym one but not the gyms calories burned. I ordered a new Spirit Fitness gym quality elliptical for our house that gets delivered 2mrw.. so hopefully with me being the only one in the house using that plus my BodyMediaFit Ill get the most accurate read out. I just wasnts ure if theres a way to increase my burn any more at all? Ill try one of the fat burner programs on it 2mrw night after it gets set up and let everyone know :) THANK YOU SOO MUCH!!
  • Inked2Love
    Inked2Love Posts: 48
    http://www.spiritfitness.com/rxe395.html. <----new elliptical that comes 2day!!! :) I love the gym but they don't have childcare and. I hate waitin til hubbys days off to go. So ill have this plus jillian strength training Dvds on a few days most days and then gym every 6 days for 3 days straight. Lol confusing but hubby works 6 days on at 14 hr days then 3 off. I have a plan and shall stuck ti it and hopefully get these last 20-25 lbs off!! :)

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