food accuracy yes, exc accuracy not so much

spikeithard
spikeithard Posts: 89 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So I think I have my food down pat. Im most likely within 50-100 calories give or take a day. Just I am worried about my exercise being off quite a bit that it completely mucks up my food charts. When I use the elliptical machine I use the heart rate monitors and use that as my calorie output... but I also like to jog around my neighborhood... and then stop at a bench and do one leg step ups. 15x4 each leg. Right now I am logging in it as slow pace jogging, 12 min mile. and When at the end I stop and do the step ups, I keep the timer running because I feel I keep the same intensity as I was with jogging. Yes a heart rate monitor would be best just havent gotten one yet. Not sure which one is best to get


are those cardiovascular entries in the MFP app like jogging and rowing adjusted to your height, weight, age etc or are they all the same calorie numbers for everyone? example. I put in 30 min on elleptical and I get '420' calories. If someone who is female and 120 pounds, would they get 320 calories for the same time?

thanks

Replies

  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    They are all just estimates (HRMs, machines, MFP's numbers, etc). Pick one source for your numbers and use them for a few weeks. If your results line up well with what you expect from your estimating/logging, then you've got a reasonably accurate system down - stick with it. If the results don't match the expectations, then something is off and you can tweak according.

    Calorie burns are such an inexact science that there isn't really a "good" way to measure.
  • Ashshell
    Ashshell Posts: 185
    I use this calculator:

    http://www.self.com/calculatorsprograms/calculators/caloriesburned/weight_lifting

    You can select different activities and input your weight. It is just an estimate, but it's good enough for me. I input my weight on the treadmill/eliptical at the gym and I use the estimated number of calories burned that the machine provides. If you eat back your exercise calories, you could leave a bit of room for error by not eating back 50-100 calories if you are concerned about inaccuracy.
  • Kittenopolis
    Kittenopolis Posts: 26 Member
    MFP uses your weight to calculate calories burned in a given exercise. As my weight drops, so do the calories burned by the same exercises/duration.

    There is lots of room for error with the HRM on fitness equipment, so I would recommend getting your own. I use the Polar FT4 & love it. You enter your personal information & you'll need to keep adjusting it as your weight goes down, etc, but I've found it to be incredibly helpful. You can also set what range you want your HR to stay in (say if you want to focus on more fat calories burned, not necessarily more calories burned total) & it will alert you with beeps if you are under or above that goal.

    Also, if you do get a HRM, get one with a chest strap sensor & invest the $5 it costs to buy some electrode gel. The sensors won't pick up your HR if they are dry & I've found the gel keeps things more consistent than relying on water or sweat to keep it going. Also, since you only need the tiniest amount, a tube of gel will last you forever.

    I use this: http://www.amazon.com/Spectra-Electrode-Parker-Labs-250GM/dp/B0002CA8RQ

    Hope that helps! :)
  • spikeithard
    spikeithard Posts: 89 Member
    thanks everyone for your imput

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