Calories burned: what the elliptical says or what MFP says?

dcmitchell01
dcmitchell01 Posts: 76 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Newbie question: So this morning, I worked out on the elliptical (including putting in my weight/age) at the gym. It told me I burned 378 calories. So.. when I enter 40 minutes on the elliptical on MFP it gives me over 500 calories burned. A big difference! I am just wondering what most people trust more? I know on MFP exercise log there are a variety of things listed, with different intensities. So I am thinking that variability gives a lot of room for error. Are the machines right? What do you guys think?

Replies

  • KYT1121
    KYT1121 Posts: 58 Member
    Did you enter your particulars (age, height, weight) on the elliptical? If not, I'd go with what MFP says. Personally I'd also recommend a heart rate monitor (HRM) for the most accuracy.
  • dcmitchell01
    dcmitchell01 Posts: 76 Member
    I did enter age and weight in the elliptical. Yeah, I need to get a HRM, I do know that the elliptical did have a HRM, and said my average HR was 150 (yeah, pretty out of shape :) ). I will google a calories burned calculator and see what it says.
  • SlimJanette
    SlimJanette Posts: 597 Member
    I put all my info in when I am working on a machine as well as I wear a HRM. I find that the machine is always higher by anywhere from 30-100 calories.
  • dcmitchell01
    dcmitchell01 Posts: 76 Member
    http://www.calories-calculator.net/Calories_Burned_By_Heart_Rate.html

    I got 351 - so it seems I should go with what the elliptical said (378). Given an expected margin of error.
  • dcmitchell01
    dcmitchell01 Posts: 76 Member
    I put all my info in when I am working on a machine as well as I wear a HRM. I find that the machine is always higher by anywhere from 30-100 calories.

    that is sort of what I found - 30 over I can live with, 100 - that's a lot.. Do you wear a continuous monitor with a chest strap, or just the one you check intermittently on the wrist?
  • kellykw
    kellykw Posts: 184 Member
    I'd pick the lower of the two, just because I'd rather underestimate calories burned than overestimate them.
  • adenium11
    adenium11 Posts: 173 Member
    Good for you for asking about this! I finally bought a HRM b/c MFP was always beyond out for me. I found a Polar HRM for $50 at Sears. Best investment EVER!
  • ChantalD75
    ChantalD75 Posts: 680 Member
    Good for you for asking about this! I finally bought a HRM b/c MFP was always beyond out for me. I found a Polar HRM for $50 at Sears. Best investment EVER!

    I got a polar too and it was worth the investment for sure. MFP over estimates the calories.
  • hardyjessicag
    hardyjessicag Posts: 93 Member
    Before I got my HRM, I want by what the elliptical/treadmill said.

    I would enter my age, and I would enter my weight as a couple pounds lighter than I was ( I figured it would help the burn be more accurate). After I got my HRM, I did notice that it was off by a good bit.

    Example: I burned 750 calories according to the treadmill, but my HRM said I burned 615. So there's a bit of a difference.

    So maybe when you do your calorie total, subtract about 20 % from it for a more accurate total?
  • toronto81
    toronto81 Posts: 17 Member
    I find both MFP and the machines at the gym to be very inaccurate for me. So I bought a Polar heart rate monitor to know exactly how things are going. Love it.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,962 Member
    I wouldn't trust either. I bought an HRM a few weeks ago. My typical workout is 65 minutes on the elliptical targettng a heart rate of 140. I will sprint for 20 seconds whenever my heart rate is lower.

    Polar FT4: 540 cals plus or minus 10
    Machine: 780 cals plus or minus 30
    MFP: 926 cals

    I trust the HRM. This certainly explains why my weight loss has been slow, as I eat back exercise calories.
  • dawningr
    dawningr Posts: 387 Member
    Never trust MFP.
    For example last night I did a Zumba class and my HRM told me I burned 370ish calories.
    Entered on MFP it tried to give me 1,000.

    At the very least I always cut the MFP total in half if I don't happen to have my HRM on .
  • Hexahedra
    Hexahedra Posts: 894 Member
    The machines are calibrated based on averages. Since my size and weight is pretty average, I figure it's accurate enough for my purpose. I don't use MFP's calculation if I have the number from the machines.

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