Excerise = Cardio Only?
Imfineru
Posts: 21 Member
Began my fitness routine on August 1st which consists of 3 days a week at the gym - 4 if I find the time. Out of those three day, I spend day one with 60 minutes of cardio. Day 2 is 1 hour of weights - 3 sets of upper and lower body. . Day 3 is 1 set of weights, and 30 minutes of cardio.
Now my question is this: I just recently started counting the calories on MFP ( I find the barcode scanner invaluable as I am very impatient) and set up my goals at 1 1\2 pounds a week loss with a 750 calorie deficit, but now I am a bit confused on the question: "How much exercise in a week". I notice when I add my weight days in, there are no calories burned.
So should I keep the exercise setting at 3 days, or only use 1.5?
My weight on my start date was 217. My weight two days ago was 210. My TDEE is 3103.
Thanks,
Chris
Now my question is this: I just recently started counting the calories on MFP ( I find the barcode scanner invaluable as I am very impatient) and set up my goals at 1 1\2 pounds a week loss with a 750 calorie deficit, but now I am a bit confused on the question: "How much exercise in a week". I notice when I add my weight days in, there are no calories burned.
So should I keep the exercise setting at 3 days, or only use 1.5?
My weight on my start date was 217. My weight two days ago was 210. My TDEE is 3103.
Thanks,
Chris
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Replies
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Actually i had this question too: the "exercise" section only add cardio calories....and not pushups etc! i'd like to know the answer to this as well!! (newbie meself!)0
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From everything I have heard and read, it is way to hard too determine calorie burn with weights.
What I do is set my activity level to 'works out 3 times a week' to cover my weights and one bike ride (and do not add their calorie burn) Any exercise above those three times I add the calorie burn to my exercise log.0 -
Unfortunately, MFP only counts the exercise in the cardio section toward your weekly goal. A few people on here have mentioned that the reason for it is because calories burned while weight training will vary greatly depending upon your current weight and the intensity of your workout. I guess MFP isn't currently set up/equipped to accurately calculate that.
What I do when I do strength training workouts is catalog it in my exercise log as strength training under the cardio section. I feel that while it's probably not a 100% accurate reflection of my calories burned, it helps me better track my weekly exercise against the goals MFP has set for me.0 -
PS: I still log my bike ride and strength training days in my exercise log so I can keep track of TIME, but I log them as 1 calorie burned.
The "above and beyond activities" I log as their full burn.0 -
MFP doesn't calculate your strength training as a burn. You can enter, "strength training/weight lifting" into cardio, but it's notoriously inaccurate. I suggest you buy a heart rate monitor. It's well worth the investment. Good luck!0
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I would not recommend just doing cardio. You are going to want to lift in order to build muscle, but if you keep your heart rate up you will burn more calories while doing it. In between my sets, as long as I am not maxing out that day, I do cardio like mountain climbers. It keeps you moving and your heart rate elevated.0
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Thank you all for the quick responses. I did not notice the strength training option in the cardio section, I think I might use that. Being that it is "notoriously incarcerate" maybe I will drop it down by 100 calories.
So I am guessing I should keep the exercise setting at 3, and just add strength training into Cardio log on weights only days. I'll minus 100 calories since it is innacurate (@rudarbe is the inaccuracy too low or too high?), and move on from there.
Thanks again!!!0 -
I would document the strength training as it relates to your personal goals of doing strength training so many days a week, etc. But I wouldn't worry abouttracking calorie burn for this. There probably is calorie burn going on, but that's not your true goal with strength training so I'd just document it to show your personal commitment to regular strength training.0
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I never log weight lifting, but yesterday after I finished weights and got on the elliptical, the first reading on my HR was 133, so I must have been doing something right.
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Thank you all for the quick responses. I did not notice the strength training option in the cardio section, I think I might use that. Being that it is "notoriously incarcerate" maybe I will drop it down by 100 calories.
So I am guessing I should keep the exercise setting at 3, and just add strength training into Cardio log on weights only days. I'll minus 100 calories since it is innacurate (@rudarbe is the inaccuracy too low or too high?), and move on from there.
Thanks again!!!
Are you using TDEE method to determine you calories or using the MFP goal/activity setting?
If you are using TDEE with the TDEE activity setting of "exercise X times a week" you are not supposed to eat back those calories from exercising.
If you use MFP settings/calculations then you are to eat back those exercise calories.0 -
Oh boy. This question has just totally confused me. For now, I will use the MFP goal settings.0
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Oh boy. This question has just totally confused me. For now, I will use the MFP goal settings.
LOL, sorry to confuse you! I saw you had mentioned your TDEE in your first post, but then mentioned what seemed you were using MFP settings, so I wondered which.
It doesn't matter which one, as long as you pick one and do it correctly.
You'll do FINE!!0 -
My personal experience (everyone is different) is when I want to drop lbs....I stick to strictly cardio. Elliptical, stair machine, jogging. When I lost my initial 35 lbs, I did cardio twice a day. Early morning and evening. dropped 35 lbs in just a few months. Once I reached my goal weight, I decided to start lifting. I did the stonglifts 5x5 program and did quite well. Gained lbs but, didn't gain in my waist. now I'm on a mix of cardio and weights.0
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I use this website that lists a ton of activities for calories burned. Weight lifting is on the list. I use it all the time and believe it's accurate as I have not gained.
http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc0 -
KEEP LIFTING!!! Your body burns calories when you do, but MFP doesn't log it -- but that doesn't mean you aren't losing calories!! Keep up the great work!!0
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Thank you all for the quick responses. I did not notice the strength training option in the cardio section, I think I might use that. Being that it is "notoriously incarcerate" maybe I will drop it down by 100 calories.
So I am guessing I should keep the exercise setting at 3, and just add strength training into Cardio log on weights only days. I'll minus 100 calories since it is innacurate (@rudarbe is the inaccuracy too low or too high?), and move on from there.
Thanks again!!!
Are you using TDEE method to determine you calories or using the MFP goal/activity setting?
If you are using TDEE with the TDEE activity setting of "exercise X times a week" you are not supposed to eat back those calories from exercising.
If you use MFP settings/calculations then you are to eat back those exercise calories.
I'm new to the MFP too, could you explain this to me further.
So for example, my TDEE says I should be 2697 (Moderate exercise 3-5 times/week - I do the Insanity program 6 days..but usually the Saturday program is mellow)
My MFP is manually set right now at 2100.
If I follow MFP and eat 2100 cal/day and then exercise and burn 500 calories then I'm back to 1600, so I need to eat 500 again?
BUT, If I follow the TDEE and eat 2700 (est. above to make it easier), I don't need to worry about plugging in the exercise calories?
Is this correct?0 -
Push ups, sit ups etc. are considerd calisthenics...this is listed under cardio0
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Thank you all for the quick responses. I did not notice the strength training option in the cardio section, I think I might use that. Being
I'm new to the MFP too, could you explain this to me further.
So for example, my TDEE says I should be 2697 (Moderate exercise 3-5 times/week - I do the Insanity program 6 days..but usually the Saturday program is mellow)
My MFP is manually set right now at 2100.
If I follow MFP and eat 2100 cal/day and then exercise and burn 500 calories then I'm back to 1600, so I need to eat 500 again?
BUT, If I follow the TDEE and eat 2700 (est. above to make it easier), I don't need to worry about plugging in the exercise calories?
Is this correct?
CORRECT! (Well, from personal experience and reading a few things)
As you have noticed, using TDEE -x% gives you MORE calories, because it figures in the extra calories you will need for your 3-5xs a week exercise.
MFP gives you FEWER calories, so you need to replace the ones you burn during workouts.
You got this!0 -
What you set or an exercise goal on MFP has no effect on what you're given for daily calories - it's just a general goal. The only time it impacts your calories is when you actually log the exercise.0
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I use an Heart Rate Monitor to get my Calorie intake...
You can also use the "Strength Training" option under the Cardio section. You DO burn calories when weight training but if you just log in "what" you do in the Strength Training section, it wont count it as calories burned.
I highly suggest a Heart Rate Monitor if you really want to know for sure.0 -
Nvm.0
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I enter my circuit training and log 1 cal burned. Well on leg day I go to 4 cals since I really hate leg day 0
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Thank you all for the quick responses. I did not notice the strength training option in the cardio section, I think I might use that. Being that it is "notoriously incarcerate" maybe I will drop it down by 100 calories.
So I am guessing I should keep the exercise setting at 3, and just add strength training into Cardio log on weights only days. I'll minus 100 calories since it is innacurate (@rudarbe is the inaccuracy too low or too high?), and move on from there.
Thanks again!!!
The exercise setting in the goals section does not change your calorie goal at all, that is why MFP add your exercise calories to your daily total--they are not already included.0 -
HA!I enter my circuit training and log 1 cal burned. Well on leg day I go to 4 cals since I really hate leg day
I will say "4" for an extra hard workout, LOL. I hate OverHead Presses, though. Sometimes hard OHP days get a burn of 4 calories.0 -
To count the calories for strength or circuit training... You can list the individual things you do under strength and post the calories burn under the cardio using circuit or strength training. If you use a fitbit or other HRM device you can add the calories or go with the preset on the default for the cardio listing under circuit or strength training. For instance, I can post all the exercises that I do on my Total Gym under strength training and I can post the time under cardio for the calorie burn... Good luck on all your fitness goals! Feel free to add me or message me if you have additional questions.0
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Oh boy. This question has just totally confused me. For now, I will use the MFP goal settings.
I believe your question is:
When I log my strength training under "strength training", why does that not increase my calorie goal?
The answer to that is that section is only for tracking your workouts, much like you might do at the gym when you write down your reps and sets and weight, so next time you remember what weight you were on for which exercises.
It does not count as calories burned unless you log it under the cardio section.0 -
I'm doing pure cardio throughout the fall and winter. The stairmill is an absolute beast, I'm trying to do at least 30-45 minutes of some type of cardio each day. I mix it up between stairmill, cycling (stationary and outdoor), jogging, and elliptical training. On a good day I'll do 90 minutes and spread it 30 minutes between three of the machines. Or sometimes, I might just go for a 5 mile walk (2 hours).
I could go 90 minutes over 4 days, but I found that I got burnt out doing that and starting developing nagging injuries, particularly from the treadmill. I will say I got my best results (lost 25 lbs) from doing 90 minutes of cardio 4 days a week 2 days of strength training. But my time is limited between work and school now, so I enjoy the 30-45 minutes per day now.
I feel good.0 -
I understood it to mean that weight training is not for weight loss. It is for muscle-building. That is to say, when you weight train, you do not work your heart rate up to a fat burning level like you would if you were doing cardio.
Disclaimer: This is just my interpretation, and I do not intend to pass myself off as any kind of expert.0 -
Come measure my heart rate after lifting your weight 5x. Your heart rate definitely goes up with lifting, just not steady state for the duration like cardio.0
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Using MPF's gauges, I watch my calories and macros to create a healthy daily calorie deficit before exercise. If I exercise (most days of the week), I do not eat back those calories unless I am really hungry - then I will log the extra food I eat and not beat myself up about it. But if I am not eating back the calories, I give myself a pat on the back for extra hard work that day and getting to my goal that much faster. I am 50 years old and have lost 15 lbs since July 1st. (10 weeks). On weight training days, I still do some cardio anyway as a warm-up and I feel that gets me going to move faster through the whole weight workout - which can only be a positive, right? But for the most part, my focus right now is cardio 5-6 days per week with weights added on top of 2 of those days.0
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