Accuracy of HRM to Calculations or Machine

ferntheburn
ferntheburn Posts: 3
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I think a huge issue i've been having is how to be somewhat more accurate when it comes to my calorie counting. I purchased a Polar FT7 for this exact pursuit and let me tell you, the results have been dismal. I've actually been earnestly trying to maintain the "fat zone" but I regularly go over that into the 70 and 80% ranges.

My question is this...

My FT7 says I burn in one hour on the elliptical 427 calories.
My machine says 857.
My calculations of weight multiplied by 2.16 is around 700. (ex: 175*2.16=378*2=756 total calories burned)
Myfitnesspal says i burned somewhere in the neighborhood of 751 as well.

Which is correct?

I'm trying to break my stall and I think this has been an issue all along. Ive been using the calories burned on my elliptical and my weight has been stagnet. This is the entire reason I purchased the ft7 but geez! 427 calories?? The highest i've gone is 560 range of calories according to my ft7. Pretty depressing!

Any advice or ways I can accurately tell what my calories burned are are welcomed! Breaking this plateau has become my lifes mission. ha.

Replies

  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    Sorry to say but your HRM is the more accurate number and since you got that you should be using that number more than the one on the machine.
    Between the fitness zone and your fat burning zone, if your heart rate is lower remember your not burning as many calories and don't worry if you push the 70-80% of your max hr.. just monitor it and make sure you are eating correctly so that if you do workout for long periods of time its not burning more muscle then fat..
    Trust your FT7 cause its more accurate than the machine or MFP (but its not 100%)
  • ferntheburn
    ferntheburn Posts: 3
    on my first day with the ft7, i was working out at an average of 80%, and learned quickly that i had to dumb it down a little.

    the fat zone has me at turtle pace. the bright side, i can talk during the workout. definately not used to that. i like to be drenched in sweat and mumbling. crazy, i know.

    do you recommend morning workouts on an empty stomach? i definately dont want to burn muscle. ive worked hard for it!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    There is no "correct" answer. They are all estimates. You are going to have to get used to the idea that weight loss is both a science and an art - you have to know and follow the basics, but then you have to play with things from there to find your sweet spot.

    On a side note, screw the "fat burning zone" and all that other nonsense. Just workout.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    You won't burn muscle on an empty stomach. Too high a calorie deficit (on a regular basisl) is what makes our bodies burn muscle.
    If you are eating your exercise calories back regularly ... you're good to go.

    Your Polar is more accurate (IMO). Yes, it sucks to be fewer calories burned ... but look at it this way .... it means you are more fit. MFP uses averages ... you're more fit than average.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    do you recommend morning workouts on an empty stomach?
    Again, there is no 1 right answer... whatever works best for you.
    i definately dont want to burn muscle. ive worked hard for it!
    How long are your workouts? It's probably a non-issue for you.


    On a side note, as an overthinker, I get the feeling you are over thinking all this. Eat less, move more, be happy.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    You won't burn muscle on an empty stomach. Too high a calorie deficit (on a regular basisl) is what makes our bodies burn muscle.
    Really? So, if I'm on a reasonable calorie goal, but going ultra low carb, I won't burn muscle at all?
    If you are eating your exercise calories back regularly ... you're good to go.
    Really? If I'm eating based on my TDEE, I should still eat back my cals?
    Your Polar is more accurate (IMO).
    Realy? How do you know?
  • ferntheburn
    ferntheburn Posts: 3
    On a side note, screw the "fat burning zone" and all that other nonsense. Just workout.

    That's what i've been wanting to do! I feel like a slowpoke with the whole fat zone and definately rethinking the entire hrm thing and any other calorie counter. You're also right, i do overthink. ive been reading on zones and epoc...and god knows what else for the past few weeks.
    How long are your workouts? It's probably a non-issue for you.

    i try to keep track but definately 6 days a week for at least an hour each. i run for an hour on fri, sun, & tues. i do the elliptical for an hour on sat, mon, & wednesday, and then will do kettlebell or boxing on sunday & wednesday for an hour. i take one rest day off a week. which is on thursday.

    i weigh a ton and in spite of my greatest efforts, i havent dropped an ounce in months. ok, i take that back. i shuffle between 175.2 and 175.6 pounds. i weigh in once a week. so frustrating!

    Really? So, if I'm on a reasonable calorie goal, but going ultra low carb, I won't burn muscle at all?

    im still fine tuning my low-carb diet. im diabetic, im athletic. its somewhat difficult to find your balance with it all without going crazy and getting your sugar too high. on intense days, i do supplement with bars but i try to stay away from sugar alcohols, they effect me adversely. i want to take a long nap when i eat them. post workout i always have a protein shake. i have to or ill pass out. what are your recommendations for how many grams i should have? ive gone from anywhere from 25g to 60g on heavy days and my body doesnt respond. not sure if i should go as high as 100g?

    i totally sidetracked the convo. ;)
  • MeeshKB
    MeeshKB Posts: 120 Member
    If you're able to talk during the workout, 427 calories in an hour sounds about right. (That's just based on my personal experience, FWIW.) Trust your FT7. It's about as accurate a measure as you can get, assuming your info is in there correctly.

    I agree with jacksonpt. Screw the "fat burning zone" stuff and just workout at what feels like a challenging level for you. You'll feel like you've accomplished so much more when you're done. Because you will have!
  • Greenrun99
    Greenrun99 Posts: 2,065 Member
    do you recommend morning workouts on an empty stomach? i definately dont want to burn muscle. ive worked hard for it!

    Thats up to you, I have done both.. sometimes I drag a bit when I exercise on an empty stomach but if I workout in the morning when I wake up I am not going to eat a big breakfast and do my workout (currently Insanity), think I would puke.. so Ya I do both.. as long as you get your calories in during the day its really your preference..
    As jacksonpt pointed out your FT7 isn't 100% accurate (as I mentioned too) but it will give you a better idea than the machine, I think if you really want to be accurate don't start the tracker until you are ready so avoid using it during stretches.. and I think there is a post on here about HRM and what percentage it could be off for men/woman so you can always reduce by that percentage if you really want..

    I would avoid those supplement bars if possible, there is alot of crap in em so if you can get the same from food thats the better way to go.. as for protein shakes, I have a protein shake after my workouts, usually 2 scoops at 50g protein.. if your asking how much protein you should have a day, you should try to have the same amount as your lean muscle mass or you could always eat how much you weigh in protein... so if your 175 you eat 175g protein... not too hard if you aim to have protein with every meal.
  • ladyluch99
    ladyluch99 Posts: 264 Member
    I thought the same thing when I started using my FT7 that my calorie burns were way too low. But as it's been said many times before, I would rather have an underestimation of calories burned than an overestimation. I was really messed up by the fact that people were posting that they had burned 800, 900 and even 1000 calories doing Zumba for 60 minutes when all I was getting was a range of 450-550 on average and I would be working mostly in my fitness zone for the entire hour. However, I have learned to appreciate the burns my HRM gives me and try not to worry about the burns others are posting.

    Question, what kind of exercise can anyone do to burn over 1500 calories in 60 minutes? I mean, is it doable? I have seen that posted and I just wonder! It really kinda baffles me. But then again, I guess it's not my business what others do and whether or not they are truly burning that many calories. I guess curiosity got the best of me.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories