MFP calories burned vs. machines count

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sassy15241
sassy15241 Posts: 46 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
When entering how long I was on a cardio machine, the amount of calories are different than what the machine says. Which should I follow?

Thanks!

Replies

  • JenMc14
    JenMc14 Posts: 2,389 Member
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    Both are just an estimate. The machine knows your resitance, but it's also calculated for an "average" sized person, I think something like 150 pounds. So, if you're lighter, it might be too high, if you're heavier, it might be too low. When there's a huge difference, I average the two numbers, realize it's an estimate, and just go from there.
  • toxikon
    toxikon Posts: 2,384 Member
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    When I use cardio machines, I always input my age and weight. So at least (I hope) it's pretty accurate. So I go by the machine calorie-count as opposed to MFP.
  • jacque1129
    jacque1129 Posts: 113 Member
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    my bike has a chest strap heart rate monitor and take in account my weight and height so i record what that says, because i feel it's more accurate. mfp usually puts me at 10-20 above what my stationary bike says.
  • sassy15241
    sassy15241 Posts: 46 Member
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    I was debating a heart rate monitor....what's the pros/cons? Can anyone recommend a fairly priced one?
  • cameronburns1982
    cameronburns1982 Posts: 18 Member
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    A lot of gym machines display gross calories burned (the amount of calories used by the body just doing normal day to day things like breathing, etc as well as calories burned by exercising) whereas I think the calories shown by MFP are nett calories (calories burned purely by exercising).

    If anyone knows whether or not this is correct, please correct me.

    Also, if you Google gross calories v nett calories, you will get a better explanation than I gave.
  • renitawalker9
    renitawalker9 Posts: 108
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    I asked this the other day because my 50 minute heavy weight lifting circuit only logged as about 156 calories but my 33 minute cardio logged as 200. hmmmm....

    ETA: Another website gave me 292 calories for vigorous weightlifting

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