Overestimating

nicolina823
nicolina823 Posts: 450 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I always knew the importance of knowing your specific HR and Calorie burn. What I didn’t realize was how important it was. I started MFP in DEC of 09. I didn’t start working out regularly until April of this year. I've worked out almost on a daily basis since then and logged in my workouts using MFP's calculations.

Today, I used my new HRM for the first time to see what I actually burn. It was an awakening let me tell ya! Almost 1/2 of what I thought I was burning! Thank goodness I've been trying to stay within 1200-1400 from the Chalean Extreme recommendations have been over eating for 6 months and didn’t even know it.

I know people have worked out without a HRM since the beginning of time. And it has worked for many. I on the other hand have a very difficult time losing weight no matter how I work out or eat. I've been getting very discouraged by how slow my weight loss has been. I thought for sure I would have been at least 10lb smaller by now and on bad days thought about giving up.

So, wish me luck on my 2nd try of MFP w/my HRM. I hope I see better result. I am happy that I have lost 17lbs but now I just wonder how much I could have lost if I knew from the start.

Happy Friday! I'm excited to see what next month has in store :wink:

Replies

  • kdiamond
    kdiamond Posts: 3,329 Member
    Yep...this is why when people ask the question 'Should I eat my exercise calories back' I tell them to eat 1/2 of them...everyone burns at a different rate and there is about a 50% margin of error.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    I should get mine in about 2 wks!! Ordering mine Wednesday.
  • melbhall
    melbhall Posts: 519
    I totally understand where you are coming from. My first elliptical workout with a HRM was an eye opener. MFP had grossly overestimated my calories and I just took them for granted and ate them back. In other news, today was my first ever brisk walking workout and my HRM said I burned 200 more than MFP. I stayed at the very top range of my HR the entire workout and I feel so great. I just hope this isn't a fluke. Either way, from now on I'm using my HRM to count my calories burned! Good luck to you!
  • nsking83
    nsking83 Posts: 145
    I think this about seals the deal for me - I run fairly often and use the nike sensor with my iPod. You can put your weight in and it'll tell you how many calories you burned - and while it's generally within 10 or so of what MFP tells me, I have a feeling I've been eating back way too many calories for what I"m actually burning.

    So - thanks for convincing this girl to get an HRM :drinker:
  • CFaye
    CFaye Posts: 59
    Hey! I was just about to write a post about this, except i had the total opposite effect. I just got a Timex HRM, and i used it today at the gym during my jog, and when I was done, it said i had burned 509 calories, while MFP said 349. I am almost too afraid to believe my HRM. It seems like for most people, the HRM is lower than MFP...

    Does anyone else out there use a Timex HRM?
  • happy_jax
    happy_jax Posts: 289 Member
    Hey! I was just about to write a post about this, except i had the total opposite effect. I just got a Timex HRM, and i used it today at the gym during my jog, and when I was done, it said i had burned 509 calories, while MFP said 349. I am almost too afraid to believe my HRM. It seems like for most people, the HRM is lower than MFP...

    Does anyone else out there use a Timex HRM?

    I don't use this HRM, I have a Polar F11 - but I have exactly the same situation as you...which always slightly scares me too!! I know most people do seem to find they burn less when tracking with a HRM... It MUST be accurate though, as you enter all your stats and it tracks the intensity of the workout, it's hard for MFP to guess this, as anyone can say - go on the cross trainer for 30 minutes, but if you're pushing yourself really hard on level 12 or swinging away on level 2...there's going to be a HUGE difference!
  • CFaye
    CFaye Posts: 59
    thanks happy_jax! I am going to test it on other exercises and see what i get!
    Have a great day!
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