STOP trying to calculate strength training calories.....

Azdak
Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Just stop.

I know you want to, I know you think you need to.

But you don't. And you can't.

There are just too many variables to come up with anything consistent. HRMs are useless, and no online calculator is going to be able to account for all the differences in your workout vs the million or so other strength workouts that people do.

I know that MFP doesn't give you "credit" for working out. The fact that strength training calories cannot be quantified is not their fault. And it doesn't mean you are being "disrespected" for doing strength training.

If you want a "credit" for motivational purposes, pick a number from 100-300 and add it on. If you think you burn more, use the trial and error method--try eating a fixed number of calories and see what happens.

Strength training is essential to any execise or weight loss program. Don't let the numbers game discourage you.

(BTW, if you want to know more about HRMs and strength training, follow this link: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698)

Replies

  • harlanJEN
    harlanJEN Posts: 1,089 Member
    EXCELLENT advice !
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    <standing ovation> :flowerforyou:
  • viajera99
    viajera99 Posts: 252 Member
    Just spent some time reading back through your blog and I heartily agree with just about everything you say. Sometimes less is more.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    Hear, hear!!
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    What about a BMF?


    But really I generally just give myself 100 calories.
  • RetiredAndLovingIt
    RetiredAndLovingIt Posts: 1,394 Member
    bump
  • dany_m
    dany_m Posts: 74 Member
    I fully agree with this! Good stuff.
  • The_Saint
    The_Saint Posts: 358 Member
    What about a BMF?


    But really I generally just give myself 100 calories.

    Agreed! BMF is not based on heart rate its based on galvanic skin response and generally shows my caloric output between 200-400 cal per hour while lifting.
  • sheri02r
    sheri02r Posts: 486 Member
    Good stuff! :)
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    But, but, but how will I justify eating more? Seems a lot of people spend a lot of time on the endless search for more calories to eat. They bypass strength training because it doesn't impress their friends with their big calorie burns and they can't use it to eat that extra snack.
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    Strength training IS on MFP......it is exaggerated.....but it is on there.....
  • quirkytizzy
    quirkytizzy Posts: 4,052 Member
    I didn't think of this until I saw a friend logging her Pilates as "1 calorie" burned. I asked her about it and she says while it's great strength and core workouts, it doesn't really get her heart rate up. That made sense to me, so that's what I do now with my Pilates, too.
  • Lady_Bane
    Lady_Bane Posts: 720 Member
    I didn't think of this until I saw a friend logging her Pilates as "1 calorie" burned. I asked her about it and she says while it's great strength and core workouts, it doesn't really get her heart rate up. That made sense to me, so that's what I do now with my Pilates, too.

    Why does your heart rate need to be up to burn calories. I am pretty confident that tearing up my muscles while lifting and the process of healing those micro tears burns calories. Why do you think so many body builders can eat so much and be lean and ripped. Please don't say cardio, because it should only be done in small amounts to not cause your body to break down muscle tissue for energy durning a heavy cardio routine.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    Well I do Pilates, Yoga, Ballet and strength training and not much additional cardio since I don't bike, jog or run. I just use on occasion the treadmill, ARC fitness or row machine. So based in this recommendation my exercise diary should be mostly blank.

    I log and calculate all my activities as given by this database or the machines at the gym. I don’t have a HRM and I have been on maintenance for almost 2 years. So it worked for me.

    Please just do what works for you and don't tell other people to STOP doing this or that. Thank you very much.
  • JamesBurkes
    JamesBurkes Posts: 382 Member


    Please just do what works for you and don't tell other people to STOP doing this or that. Thank you very much.

    But the trouble is, people are sabotaging their efforts.

    They use their heart rate monitors and then think they've burned 7 or 800 calories lifting weights when they've done nothing of the sort. If they do that by choice then fine, but usually it's because they don't know any better.

    Good post, OP.

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