What should I go by, MFP or machine?

sremarie
sremarie Posts: 37
in Fitness and Exercise
Confusing issue for me.. say I use the stationary bike at the gym. At the end the machine says I've burned 160 calories for 30 min but when I type the exercise into my diary , MFP says for 30 minutes I've burned 250 calories. Which should I go by?

Replies

  • Timshel_
    Timshel_ Posts: 22,834 Member
    Odd, most machines guestimate high for me. I just use MFP.

    Like the Pirates say, "he code is more what you'd call "guidelines" than actual rules." Arrrrrg.

    You could search a bunch of website and enter information for their takes on calories burned to.

    Just average it out and you'll be good.
  • MySlimGoals
    MySlimGoals Posts: 754 Member
    Choose one and be consistent with using the data from only that one. No one really knows which is more accurate!
  • ctottingham
    ctottingham Posts: 3 Member
    Do some research on accuracy on cardio machines, you'll be surprised! I believe stationary bikes are pretty accurate however, just be sure to input all of your info when you start the workout (age and weight).

    Based off of what I've read, I always skim a little off the top of what the machine reports I burned and put that in. So for example, when I run for 30 minutes and the tredmill says I burned about 250 cals, I just put in 200. I'd rather under estimate my cals burned and over estimate my cals eaten then wonder why I'm not losing anything. :wink:
  • gemmaleigh1989
    gemmaleigh1989 Posts: 241 Member
    Buy a heart Rate monitor that comes with a chest strap for accurate calorie burn (highly recommend polar). Best investment I have ever made. Mfp and gym machines are way off.
  • sremarie
    sremarie Posts: 37
    Thanks everyone!
  • kapoorpk
    kapoorpk Posts: 244 Member
    The most accurate measure is through a heart rate monitor as it measure your individual heart rate based calories burnt. Second to that I would use the machine and as a last resort MFP as its too generic without accounting for that specific machine. Good luck!
  • crazy4fids
    crazy4fids Posts: 173
    I threw in the towel and purchased a MediaFit armband.
  • danmcgarrigle5
    danmcgarrigle5 Posts: 90
    I found the choices on MFP to be too broad and subjective. I use what the machine says.

    for example I'll do an hour on the bike, on level 10 of 12 and it says I'll burn between 650-700 calories, MFP says that would be over 1000, so I go with the machine, and I try to use the same machine every time
  • KazSmith68
    KazSmith68 Posts: 85
    I use what the machines say but always make sure I put my weight and age in first.
  • caroleannlight
    caroleannlight Posts: 173 Member
    the machines at my gym seem similar to my HRM provided I enter my data i.e. weight height and gender. The eliptical HR is very similar to my HR on the chest strap device - MFP seems to overegg the pudding but YRMV
  • srm1960
    srm1960 Posts: 281 Member
    Confusing issue for me.. say I use the stationary bike at the gym. At the end the machine says I've burned 160 calories for 30 min but when I type the exercise into my diary , MFP says for 30 minutes I've burned 250 calories. Which should I go by?
    :sad:

    I agree-MFP is sooooooooooo way off!!!
  • metacognition
    metacognition Posts: 626 Member
    To be on the safe side, take the lower number. That way, if you eat your exercise calories back then you won't go over maintenance.

    Consider your heart rate and perceived exertion. Doing cardio for an hour with a heart rate of 130 beats per minute is a lot different from 170 beats...
  • gennafer731
    gennafer731 Posts: 27 Member
    I use a bodybugg/bodymedia and when I compare with machines I find bikes usually report twice what I actually burn, treadmills and heart rate monitors are x1.25 actual burn, ellipctical and stairclimbers are the closest to accurate.

    The machines are a touch more accurate for my husband so I guess the guage is based off someone closer to his size and weight. I think the heart rate monitors problem is lag since I use bluetooth ones it seems like they recheck every so often instead of a constant stream of information. It is most off when I do interval training where my HR goes up and down a lot.

    I always guess on the low side if I'm not sure, better to think smaller and eat smaller than think more and eat too much.
  • badboyhouse
    badboyhouse Posts: 8
    Buy a heart Rate monitor that comes with a chest strap for accurate calorie burn (highly recommend polar). Best investment I have ever made. Mfp and gym machines are way off.

    I agree. My treadmill calorie readings were WAY out compared to my heart rate monitor. Glad I bought one!
  • FattieBabs
    FattieBabs Posts: 542 Member
    Do some research on accuracy on cardio machines, you'll be surprised! I believe stationary bikes are pretty accurate however, just be sure to input all of your info when you start the workout (age and weight).

    Based off of what I've read, I always skim a little off the top of what the machine reports I burned and put that in. So for example, when I run for 30 minutes and the tredmill says I burned about 250 cals, I just put in 200. I'd rather under estimate my cals burned and over estimate my cals eaten then wonder why I'm not losing anything. :wink:

    This is exactly what I do too!

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