Eating Calories burnt from Weight lifting

Zoejohnse91
Zoejohnse91 Posts: 227 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I haven't been recording the weight training under 'Cardio' just under 'Strength Training' so I haven't been calculating or recording the calories I've burnt from doing weights.

What do people think?

(Im using the MFP method so i record all my exercise). How many calories do you really burn from weights?

Thanks in advanced, no hate please im just curious! :drinker:

Replies

  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    The amount burned REALLY depends and there isn't a good way besides trial and error or a lab. You can use the MFP estimate, and adjust the amount burned manually if you find weight loss isn't in line with expected. I initially used half the MFP estimate to be on the safe side, but now use the full estimate.
  • kjcalegan
    kjcalegan Posts: 3 Member
    I record all of mine under cardio because I do a lot of interval training/HIIT. When I'm in the gym, I don't just do straight weights...I mix it up with machines/floor exercises. I just make a note of what I did that day for my own personal record (intervals/HIIT, legs, upper body, straight cardio, etc).

    I never trust MFP (or elliptical/treadmill) estimates for calories burned! I have a heart rate monitor (Polar watch), and it takes the guesswork out of it. It tells me how long my session was and how many calories burned, so I record it as (for example) "Cardio and Legs" or "HIIT and abs/upper body." I usually burn 500-700 calories in an hour of gym time (about half an hour of cardio and half an hour of strength). If didn't eat some/most of the calories back I burned from lifting I would starve to death haha! Good luck to ya :wink:
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    I never trust MFP (or elliptical/treadmill) estimates for calories burned! I have a heart rate monitor (Polar watch), and it takes the guesswork out of it. It tells me how long my session was and how many calories burned, so I record it as (for example) "Cardio and Legs" or "HIIT and abs/upper body." I usually burn 500-700 calories in an hour of gym time (about half an hour of cardio and half an hour of strength). If didn't eat some/most of the calories back I burned from lifting I would starve to death haha! Good luck to ya :wink:
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    I just set my activity level to light active and log the strength training as 1 calorie, that way you spread out the cals from strength training to the non workout days, which is when muscles grow and need the fuel, and it is much simpler to do it that way.
  • kjcalegan
    kjcalegan Posts: 3 Member
    [/quote]
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.
    [/quote]

    Hmm...I never thought about it that way. Makes sense though. Where did you get this information? (Not doubting you, just curious.)
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.
    [/quote]

    Hmm...I never thought about it that way. Makes sense though. Where did you get this information? (Not doubting you, just curious.)
    [/quote]

    The HRM manufactures' web sites, the HRM user manuals, and Azdak here on MFP has a lot of great info on HRM use and links to studies.
  • tyrsnbdr
    tyrsnbdr Posts: 234 Member
    I consider weight lifting as normal part of my TDEE and don't eat any of it back.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    I have always used the MFP enrty for strength training under cardio and eaten back 100% of the calories and it has always been good enough that it does not disrupt my predicted weight loss/maintenance by the numbers. So, it's good enough for me.

    At my weight it gives me just under 200 calories per hour.
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I never trust MFP (or elliptical/treadmill) estimates for calories burned! I have a heart rate monitor (Polar watch), and it takes the guesswork out of it. It tells me how long my session was and how many calories burned, so I record it as (for example) "Cardio and Legs" or "HIIT and abs/upper body." I usually burn 500-700 calories in an hour of gym time (about half an hour of cardio and half an hour of strength). If didn't eat some/most of the calories back I burned from lifting I would starve to death haha! Good luck to ya :wink:
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.

    I'm in maintentance mode, use an HR monitor to track my weight lifting calories, and eat them back (heavier on the protein). The monitor usually gives me about 6-7 calories burned per minute, which isn't outrageous, about the same as a brisk walk. Whether it is scientifically accurate or not, I am burning some amount of calories while lifting, and it is a reasonable way to allow for my additional caloric needs after lifting.
  • kjcalegan
    kjcalegan Posts: 3 Member
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.

    Hmm...I never thought about it that way. Makes sense though. Where did you get this information? (Not doubting you, just curious.)
    [/quote]

    The HRM manufactures' web sites, the HRM user manuals, and Azdak here on MFP has a lot of great info on HRM use and links to studies.
    [/quote]

    Good to know, I'll look into that. However, I'm still dropping pounds and gaining muscle tone (good energy levels too) so whatever I'm doing is working for me - which may be more in line with the OP's goals as well. Probably because I incorporate more cardio/resistance into my workouts than straight lifting. Educating one's self on the subject never hurts though.
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.

    Hmm...I never thought about it that way. Makes sense though. Where did you get this information? (Not doubting you, just curious.)
    This is a great write up from a knowledgeable person here on the physiology of it.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698
  • The_Enginerd
    The_Enginerd Posts: 3,982 Member
    Note, HRM calorie estimates are only accurate for steady state cardio. They do no work for weight training because the physiological reasons for increased heart rate are different between cardio and weight training. An HRM will highly over estimate the calorie burn for weight training.

    Hmm...I never thought about it that way. Makes sense though. Where did you get this information? (Not doubting you, just curious.)

    The HRM manufactures' web sites, the HRM user manuals, and Azdak here on MFP has a lot of great info on HRM use and links to studies.

    Good to know, I'll look into that. However, I'm still dropping pounds and gaining muscle tone (good energy levels too) so whatever I'm doing is working for me - which may be more in line with the OP's goals as well. Probably because I incorporate more cardio/resistance into my workouts than straight lifting. Educating one's self on the subject never hurts though.
    They will not be as far off for circuit training because it's semi-cardio, but still an overestimate. The blog post tackles this as well.
  • MagnumBurrito
    MagnumBurrito Posts: 1,070 Member
    The amount of calories consumed all depends on the lifting exercises you're doing.

    Highest calorie using exercises are Deadlifts and Squats. Any compound movement exercise will consume tons of calories, though.

    My heart rate goes through the roof when I burn out with high rep pull ups. I need to take a knee after each set.

    Log compound exercises as using more calories than cardio.

    However, if you're doing light dumbell curls, or something of that nature, I would log little calorie use.


    Leading Muscle

Categories