We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

45 min of cycling equals only 281 cal burned?

patrickkelly69
patrickkelly69 Posts: 22
edited January 13 in Fitness and Exercise
I've just done 45 min of cycling traveling 11 km which equals an average speed on 13 km/h or 8 mph. This has burned only 281 cal. I thought I was doing really well maintaining a highish speed ?????????

Replies

  • PurpleTina
    PurpleTina Posts: 390 Member
    Do you mean outdoors on a bike, or stationary in the gym?

    Outdoors I would say that's a bit low, but if it's an exercise bike, I find that speed doesn't equate larger calorie burn, so it sounds about right. If I add resistance, it increases it a lot.
  • patrickkelly69
    patrickkelly69 Posts: 22
    stationary - so is it better to go longer at a slower pace rather than trying to maintain a highish speed?
  • nerchk
    nerchk Posts: 136 Member
    Stationary bikes dont burn too much cals, i have been complaining about it for a while
  • FattieBabs
    FattieBabs Posts: 542 Member
    Maybe try HIT. 4 mintes of as fast as you can go, break sweat, rest, then do it again. This is working for me on the AMT.
  • PurpleTina
    PurpleTina Posts: 390 Member
    stationary - so is it better to go longer at a slower pace rather than trying to maintain a highish speed?

    Up to you really; it's all exercise and therefore good for you! I get a bit bored on the bikes, so tend to use one of the hill programmes to add a bit of variety, then it alternates between easy and difficult, rather than being too much for too long.
  • georgina1970
    georgina1970 Posts: 333 Member
    stationary - so is it better to go longer at a slower pace rather than trying to maintain a highish speed?

    Depends on whether you can maintain a decent length of time if you go faster. You might like to try increasing you speed or resistance to build some strength, and then increasing your overall time.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    I've just done 45 min of cycling traveling 11 km which equals an average speed on 13 km/h or 8 mph. This has burned only 281 cal. I thought I was doing really well maintaining a highish speed ?????????

    Sounds a reasonable estimate. I tend to burn 600/hour but I'm going twice as fast.
    8mph is fast for running but not for cycling - sorry!
    Keep at it, cycling is great for your cardio health.

    There are different benefits from low intensity and high intensity training (do both ideally) - have a read of this article
    http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/heart-rate-monitor-training-for-cyclists-28838/
  • ksizzle911
    ksizzle911 Posts: 130 Member
    How are you figuring out your calories burned? 1st-Don't trust the machines. They are not accurate most of the time. 2nd-If you use this site, they usually over guesstimate on calories burned for most exercises. The only true way to determine how many calories you are burning is to use a Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) If you are serious about losing weight and getting the most out of your workouts, I highly suggest buying one.
  • teebeegeebee
    teebeegeebee Posts: 218 Member
    Hi

    excercise machines at the gym are not very accurate - use them as a guide while you exercise

    I check this site as it gives an accurate check of where you are - age weight height effort level they all have a bearing

    try it and use as a guide to keep yourself honest

    http://www.freedieting.com/tools/calories_burned.htm?utm_expid=171515-3&utm_referrer=http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0CFUQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freedieting.com%2Ftools%2Fcalories_burned.htm&ei=Un0ZUfTnG8ieiQeC-YDABw&usg=AFQjCNGc1RvEx7BUWgqlD4shMY-gmqpL9Q&bvm=bv.42080656,d.aGc

    have fun !
  • c1aireee
    c1aireee Posts: 269 Member
    what would be the best hrm to invest in?
  • Elleinnz
    Elleinnz Posts: 1,661 Member
    stationary - so is it better to go longer at a slower pace rather than trying to maintain a highish speed?

    dial up the resistance - and then try and go as fast as you can.....RPM is a better indicator for me of how hard I am working....

    And as someone else said HIIT is quite effective - here is an example

    3min warm up - 40% of max HR
    30 seconds - as hard as you can go (between 75% and 95% of max HR)
    2min - 50% of max HR
    Repeat 6 times
    3min cool down - 40% of max HR
This discussion has been closed.

Categories