Actual calories burned using myftnesspal

I think the calories given by MFP are way over estimated... I wear a HRM and it is always much less than MFP calories.

MFP is just an estimate like anything else. For some people, it will be an overestimate, for some an underestimate, and for some, pretty much spot on. When I was less fit (and more overweight than I am now) MFP was grossly UNDERestimating my calorie burns, according to my HRM. Now that I'm more fit and less overweight (though still certainly overweight), it's much, much closer. It would be a fairly good approximation to my actual calorie burn (though a very slight overestimate). For fit people, I think it does overestimate by a fair amount most of the time. Cycling seems to overestimate things a lot too - but every online calculator gives me a much higher burn for my cycling then my HRM does.

I'm speaking mostly to running and walking as those are the ones I use the most. Swimming and elliptical seem to be pretty high for everyone.

For ME, if I were running for 30 minutes, it would probably burn about 280 calories. In general, the max burn for a high intensity cardio workout would be about 10 calories per minute - though when just starting an exercise routine it might be higher.

Well, when I go to the gym and go on the treadmills, the calories burned is usually higher than the MFP... then again, I set the machine to fluctuate the incline, so there are times I'm running the same pace at higher inclines... which technically would burn more calories... It may all be relative!

I recently started using a HRM and found that the calories calculated where almost the same when MFP guessed. The only way to know for sure is by experimenting, if you continue to lose weight while eating back your exercise calories then that's OK in my book

By how much do you think they overestimate?

It really depends on the exercise I do. Also, don't go by the cardio machines calorie burn either... If you are having success and eating back your exercise calories, don't sweat it.

If a machine you are using does not allow for weight adjustment, it is most likely displaying the calorie burn for a 180 pound individual. I have a Horizon EX-57 elliptical in my home gym and it does not allow for me to enter my body weight. The calories displayed at the end of my workouts are UNDER those that MFP offer when I enter my time. That being said, I travel for work and once a month I stay at a hotel that offers the use of a local gym with your stay. I have used two different pieces of equipment that do allow for weight adjustment and my calorie burn comes within 10 to 15 calories of what MFP says based on my current weight. There is no way to determine exactly how "off" MFP may be due to different levels of exertion; however, its probably safe to "trust" MFP's number as long as your are working out with above average to moderate intensity.