same exercise, different calorie counts

betreich
betreich Posts: 51 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi, I am in my second week of using MFP, so sorry if this is an old question for some. I have noted that when I log my exercise the calorie counts can be quite different for the same exercise one day to the next. Can't work out what is going on! Is anyone able to explain - thanks in advance.

Replies

  • PinkCoconut
    PinkCoconut Posts: 655 Member
    Are you using a heart rate monitor to get your calories burned or plugging it into MFP to get calories burned?
  • betreich
    betreich Posts: 51 Member
    Hi, not using HRM, just logging exercise into MFP. For example, on 11th Jan - Bicycling 16-19kph 40 mins came up at 1181kj and on 15 Jan came up as 279kj. same exercise and duration. Had a similar thing happen logging running, came up 500 odd kj one day, but over 1000kj another day for same speed and duration. I went back to that one the following day and re entered it and it went to the higher amount. Maybe a glitch in the system, or am I missing something?
  • Morgaath
    Morgaath Posts: 679 Member
    Hi, not using HRM, just logging exercise into MFP. For example, on 11th Jan - Bicycling 16-19kph 40 mins came up at 1181kj and on 15 Jan came up as 279kj. same exercise and duration. Had a similar thing happen logging running, came up 500 odd kj one day, but over 1000kj another day for same speed and duration. I went back to that one the following day and re entered it and it went to the higher amount. Maybe a glitch in the system, or am I missing something?

    I think it is your Fitbit calorie adjustments. It will adjust things by how many cals it thinks you burned.
  • PinkCoconut
    PinkCoconut Posts: 655 Member
    That is weird! It should be the same if you haven't updated anything! If you can swing it, I'd definitely suggest investing in a HR monitor as it'll give you a more accurate read!
  • betreich
    betreich Posts: 51 Member
    Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't thought of getting a HRM as I thought they were only really for serious athletes. I am just trying to get some regular exercise into my day to be healthy and maintain my health as I get older. I started running last year( have never run before) to try and increase the intensity of my exercise a bit without necessarily exercising for longer, and found much to my complete surprise I actually like it. But as I am eating back my calories from exercise, and relying on MFP to tell me how much that is (other wise stuck with 1200 cals to loose at a rate of 0.5 kg a week - feels like starvation rations!), so maybe a HRM would be the way to go if they are more accurate. Otherwise I may be accidently eating too much? Not that keen on having to wear a chest strap. I have seen newer models that apparently just work from a wrist monitor - any advice or experience with those?

Categories