Not losing weight? This might be why...

softsculptor
softsculptor Posts: 102
in Fitness and Exercise
Research shows that certain exercise machines overestimate calories burned. The elliptical is the worst offender with an overestimation of up to 42%!

You can meticulously log your food, but if you are overestimating calories burned, you are bound to plateau. I am 100% convinced this is what caused my last plateau.

I spend, for instance, an hour on that thing during my workouts and in the end, it says I've burned 800 calories. Even though I have it on max resistance, I KNOW this is too good to be true as I am going at a pace that allows me to read while exercising.

Now I subtract 42% from all my elliptical calories and am successfully losing weight.

Worthwhile articles:

http://www.everyfit.com/2011/03/08/true-or-false-elliptical-machines-overestimate-your-calorie-burn

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Weekend/exercise-calorie-counters-work/story?id=9966500#.UDImBdAe5UM
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Replies

  • gmichaelguy
    gmichaelguy Posts: 123 Member
    Best bet: buy your own heart rate monitor and use it and ignore the machine.
  • postrockandcats
    postrockandcats Posts: 1,145 Member
    Those machines are famously high with their burn numbers! Some of them are okay, but I don't trust them. :)
  • dr3wman
    dr3wman Posts: 205
    Yea I wouldn't trust the numbers machines give you. Then again, I don't trust HRMs either haha
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    I also found the displayed calories on both elliptical and treadmill to be seriously over the number on my HRM. I trust the HRM's algorithm for calculating my personal calories burned much more than the gym equipment.
    I also see that MFP calorie numbers are way over for me. For a Jazzercise session MFP will give me 700 calories, but my HRM is more in the neighborhood of 350! If I based my food intake on machines or MFP I'd never have a calorie deficit!! I might even gain rather than lose.
    (Others have found the displays they saw were under what their HRM gave them.)
  • beansprouts
    beansprouts Posts: 410 Member
    I have never trusted the calories burned numbers coming from any of those machines!
  • remediosa
    remediosa Posts: 1 Member
    Thanks so much for posting this!
  • Killing_Perfection
    Killing_Perfection Posts: 79 Member
    Very, very true. We have an elliptical at home and that thing, despite taking age/height/weight, actually says I burn 800 kcal in just 30 minutes. Right. High intensity and all, that's just ridiculous.... MFP gives me less than 300, which is a lot more accurate....
  • cunninjd
    cunninjd Posts: 17
    Very useful post. I am suspicious of any exercise that burns 800-900 calories an hour. Almost nothing is that good and if it was, I wouldn't be able to do it!
  • KombuchaCat
    KombuchaCat Posts: 834 Member
    Very good point, which is why I think I'm going to invest in one of those fit bits.
  • Determinednoob
    Determinednoob Posts: 2,001 Member
    I personally do not even try to estimate calories burned with exercise. I do an exercise regime based on my goals and adjust calorie intake based on what is happening on the scale\calipers\mirror\tape measure
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    HRM + simple equation = closer to real calorie expenditure.
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/207640-how-to-calculate-calories-burned-with-a-formula/
  • Swissmiss
    Swissmiss Posts: 8,754 Member
    Best bet: buy your own heart rate monitor and use it and ignore the machine.

    This is what I do. Thanks for sharing this.
  • brownm33
    brownm33 Posts: 44 Member
    The heart rate monitor I bought is the best! I'm doing Insanity and burning between 300-400 calories a workout (somedays less and somedays more).
  • Lina4Lina
    Lina4Lina Posts: 712 Member
    MFP also rates about double of my HRM.
  • Julienetan
    Julienetan Posts: 44
    It all my maid's fault. She always made delicious breakfast and dinner.
  • captnemo44
    captnemo44 Posts: 82 Member
    I use my heart rate moniter and love it!
  • suzieqcookie
    suzieqcookie Posts: 314 Member
    i think they way overestimate too. But for some of us, a dependable HRM is simply not an option. I just make sure to never eat back more than 15-25% of my exercise calories that they do give me credit for and it's worked for me so far.
  • naples89
    naples89 Posts: 33 Member
    Which is why you shouldnt be eating exercise calories back anyway, its counterproductive.
  • AddA2UDE
    AddA2UDE Posts: 382
    Apparently, this is a topic of high interest to those who have a picture of a cat in their profile.
  • EatClenTrenHard
    EatClenTrenHard Posts: 339 Member
    Which is why you shouldnt be eating exercise calories back anyway, its counterproductive.

    strong this.

    everything else is broscience
    yTkUc.png
  • andie2013
    andie2013 Posts: 101
    I trust my HRM a little more than the machines and even then, the HRM is just an estimate, too.
    What I do is, I try not to eat my calories back.
  • MosierTim
    MosierTim Posts: 56 Member
    I have found the Estimated calorie burn on the machines to be LESS than the estimated Calorie burn here on MFP. To an extent, it is all a guessing game which is why I am not a big fan of eating back all my exercise calories.
  • edixon908
    edixon908 Posts: 68 Member
    Thanks for this helpful information. Explains why I have hit a plateau using those calories.
  • EFELICIA64
    EFELICIA64 Posts: 2 Member
    I eat what I set my calorie intake for and I don't take account for my exercise... I work a little harder during my workout if I know I am going to have a glass of wine or a good chocolate treat!
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,330 Member
    I have been using my HRM when I am on my stationary bike...it always says I have burned over 100 calories more than the machine says. BUT the HRM doesn't take into account calories I would burn doing nothing. So I figure the machine is probably close to accurate and I would rather err on the side of less than more.
  • 1MandM1
    1MandM1 Posts: 87 Member
    Apparently, this is a topic of high interest to those who have a picture of a cat in their profile.

    Yes it is :P
  • nakcuh
    nakcuh Posts: 3
    The numbers on my gyms elliptical are vastly overrated, MFP guestimation however is very close to my HRM!
  • GretchenReine
    GretchenReine Posts: 1,374 Member
    I don't trust MFPs numbers OR the machines. If it weren't for my HRM...I'd be way off in my calories.
  • mariagabriella
    mariagabriella Posts: 267 Member
    my HRM actually shows less burned than some machines, but I don't use machines much either, so...

    I never eat back all my exercise calories, only some. if you know your body well enough you'll know how much and what you need after a workout.
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I personally do not even try to estimate calories burned with exercise. I do an exercise regime based on my goals and adjust calorie intake based on what is happening on the scale\calipers\mirror\tape measure

    This

    If a difference due to overestimation of calories burned is causing you to gain weight (or not lose) then perhaps you are giving yourself too narrow a margin by which to eat and exercise.

    Some people are really good at the "eat back exercise calories" plan, usually because they are active people by nature and they're making sure to get sufficient calories to support their lifestyle. For me personally, physical activity is a huge part of my lifestyle and burning calories is a side effect, not a direct attempt to lose weight. Weight loss comes from diet. Physical fitness comes from exercise.

    I'm sorry to say it, but doing a 30 minute elliptical workout every day doesn't mean you need to eat more.

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