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Which calorie count is accurate?

jmansor
jmansor Posts: 9 Member
edited January 6 in Fitness and Exercise
I worked out at the gym yesterday on the Life Fitness elliptical cross trainer. I was also wearing my Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor at that time. At the end of my 45 minute session, according to the elliptical cross trainer, I burned 515 calories but my Polar FT4 showed that I only burned 412 calories. The cross trainer took my heart rate via heart rate hand sensors and my Polar FT4 gathered the data via the chest strap that I was wearing. So, which one is the correct one? Any idea why the big difference?

Replies

  • I believe that those machines (and also MFP) usually way over estimate your calorie burn. I don't really know why this is the case- except maybe that you have put in more accurate statistics and info about yourself into your heart rate monitor???

    But whatever it is I have noticed that I seem to magically burn calories way faster according to those machines, even when I'm not breaking a sweat! I would be conservative and go with the hrm.
  • RocSek
    RocSek Posts: 7 Member
    If you've set up your Polar right then I'd go with the info from that.
  • jmansor
    jmansor Posts: 9 Member
    Thank you for your input.I thought the Polar FT4 was more accurate.
This discussion has been closed.