Logging Exercise Using MFP Calculations or Not?

Looks as if the calories burned are doubled.

I track the exercise calories that the treadmill or other equipment says but just because I told one of my friends when I work so hard I want to see high #'s... just ego but I don't eat back my calories so it doesn't matter to me if they're inflated. Whatever works for you is the right answer:flowerforyou:

So I use MFP for 1 source, than I use my RUNKEEPER phone app to track all workouts, and finally i use my POLAR F7 HRM. I will look at all 3 and kinda use a avg between the 3.

Before my HRM arrived, I was recording MFP info but felt it was too high so I didn't eat back more than about 30% of the cals. Now that I have the HRM, a FT4, I am using that no. of cals as my cals burned as I think it is much more accurate. Now I will eat by cals on the day I feel I need them. Many days, I don't go into my exercise cals at all. YMMV.

I use UP by Jawbone (a lot of other people use Fitbit) to track my calories burn and have it adjust my calories. I was shocked to see the difference in calories. Sometimes MFP estimates TRIPLE the calories burnt than my UP band. I definitely wouldn't trust MFP if your'e planning on eating back the calories.

I didn't eat back the MFP exercise calories burned; I've been using a HRM for sometime and I agree with many of the posts about the significant difference between MFP and the HRM.

I'm really confused. I have seen several people talk about eating the calories they burn back. Are you suppose to do that?

When you set your goals, you indicate whether you are sedentary, active, etc. You also give your weight loss goal (1 pound per week, etc.), as well as your expected level of workouts (15 minutes daily, etc.). From that information, MFP calculates your normal daily caloric consumption, and then sets your target caloric intake to meet that weight loss pace.

If you do more workouts than that, you are burning more calories than they calculated. E.g., if you say you are sedentary, but then you start working out every day, that workout is not calculated into your MFP projections. So you can eat back some of the calories you consumed in your workout, and still be on target for your weight loss pace. But if you say you are active, and you remain equally active, then MFP has already calculated that into your projections.

So go back and check what your answers are on your goals. Then you can decide whether your activity is already incorporated into the MFP goals (in which case you do not eat back), or whether your activity is in addition to the MFP goals (in which case you can eat back if you choose).

98% of the time I manually adjust MFP calories burned downward by about a third from what MFP gives me.
Just manually lower the number.

I use a fitbit and let it sync. Fitbit burn is about half of the MFP calories.

I don't use MFP numbers other than for swimming since I don't have a waterproof HRM. Otherwise, I use my HRM's number (which is typically lower), AND I calculate net calories burned (only the amount I burned over and above what I would have burned anyway even if I had been sitting on the couch). High numbers are fun, but I feel like what I'm doing is most realistic. But then, I don't typically eat them back anyway.

I only lift weights 3X a week and just skip logging the calories. It wouldn't be that much of a difference anyway, & I just look at it as a slight bump up in my caloric reduction/deficit for the day.

I adjust my calories burned manually to be where I need them, since I do eat them back.

Basically I maybe only log 1/2 of what MFP says. Another great option it to just go with TDEE method, then it really doesn't matter what calories you burn. You'll know exactly how many calories to eat each day.

I don't think that MFP's numbers for walking are inflated. If anything, they're lower than the calculations on other sites. MFP also lowers your calories burned when you walk the same distance more slowly. Most sites give you about the same burn per mile.

I don't think that MFP's numbers for walking are inflated. If anything, they're lower than the calculations on other sites. MFP also lowers your calories burned when you walk the same distance more slowly. Most sites give you about the same burn per mile.

It really does depend on weight and fitness levels. MFP calcs usually are 20% above my HRM.

Other sites are no more accurate than MFP - they're norm based, and individuals will vary from the norm.

For distance based exercise, 100 cals per mile is the average burn. This is perhaps the best way to estimate cal burn for walking and running - add a bit for running to allow for the difference in effort, and a bit more for weight.

If I have a more accurate reading, I correct to that figure. Have found mfp to consistently over count calories that I have tracked on gym equipment. Otherwise I just halve the mfp calories.