MFP, MMR and HRM. All give vastly different calorie burns.

bjdw1
bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just did 5.08km in 26:44. My heart rate monitor credits me with 480 calories. The Map My Run app on my phone credits me 255 and MFP says 359.

Logged 359 'cos it's in the middle.

Any thoughts on such big differences??

This was my first run after 6 weeks off witrh an injury. 35 177cm 72kg M.

Replies

  • bjdw1
    bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
    Bump.
  • Gallowmere1984
    Gallowmere1984 Posts: 6,626 Member
    It's a lot like any given piece of food you may eat. The best anything can give you is an estimate, really. There are FAR too many potential variables within that individual piece of food, just like there are far too many potential variables in the way your body handles a given workload. Not to mention the intensity of the run, the dead weight in fat you may be carrying, etc.
  • bjdw1
    bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
    I've been using MFP on the philosiphy that it's all about averages and best guesses and I've I've moved a bit of weight that way. I was just surprised to see such a big difference in the burn estimates between the three applications. Guess I'll just keep using all three and take the average.
  • gjulie
    gjulie Posts: 391
    know what you mean I see a huge difference beteween my HRM and the machines in the gym,it dosnt matter what I do my HRM says I burn 248 cals in 40 mins approx whereas if I just went with the machine totals Id be at 500.massive difference!
  • CaseRat
    CaseRat Posts: 377 Member
    I'd say your middle number was about right. Map my run = nonsense.
    Got to keep in mind that the MFP number given doesn't account for the calories you would have burned normally from daily activity, but your HRM will.
  • geoffreyhipango
    geoffreyhipango Posts: 11 Member
    I always go by HRM as it is calibrated to your height and weight and age and actually operates off the most accurate variable - your actual heart beat, whereas the others tend to be cruder estimates. When Im tested by gym instructor for assessment - its the HRM that is used....I would welcome any further feedback to this.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Just did 5.08km in 26:44. My heart rate monitor credits me with 480 calories. The Map My Run app on my phone credits me 255 and MFP says 359.

    Logged 359 'cos it's in the middle.

    Any thoughts on such big differences??

    This was my first run after 6 weeks off witrh an injury. 35 177cm 72kg M.

    Have you checked the settings of each? Height and weight?
    The HRM and the speed of your run would suggest that this was a big effort, MMR just a fast run but nothing special. What did it feel like?
  • bjdw1
    bjdw1 Posts: 140 Member
    My HRM only asks for age and sex.

    As far as effort goes, I was struggling for the last km, willpower more than muscle power carried me to the end.
  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Calories consumed depend on weight -- if your HRM only asks for age and sex and does not have a weight element then the formula used is not giving a very good calculation.

    If you still have the average HR for that exercise try this:

    http://www.easycalculation.com/health/heart-rate-calorie-burn.php

    Now change the weight by x lbs and see the difference. Weight can account for about plus or minus 300 kcal/hour for a male.

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