How accurate are exercise machine when counting calories?

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Y05H1
Y05H1 Posts: 9
in Fitness and Exercise
Just did a 45 minute high resistance workout on an elliptical. Now, it's telling me I burned 700 calories. I'm feeling proud of myself, burned off about half the calories I took in for the day, but then I started thinking; How accurate are these things really? Is there really any accuracy? Is it more or less just a 'guess', or is there truth to the numbers these things give us?

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  • spinedocmfp
    spinedocmfp Posts: 109 Member
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    They are almost always 1.5 to 2 times what my heart rate monitor says, even with the same stats put in. The safe bet is to use half and monitor your progress. If you are losing too fast eat a bit more, and if you are losing on target, then excellent.
  • 55in13
    55in13 Posts: 1,091 Member
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    I think they get caught up in the ad wars with each other; one cycle can't claim less burn than the competition so they all push it to extremes.
  • Y05H1
    Y05H1 Posts: 9
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    Good grief, that's a ridiculous difference. Think I'll have to get a heart rate monitor myself.

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