Calorie difference between machine & App

LindsayLouKY
LindsayLouKY Posts: 2
edited February 18 in Getting Started
Has anyone used the treadmill/elliptical/stationary bike to track how many calories you burn? And then plug the same exercise into MyFitnessPal, and had a major difference in the number? Treadmill said I burned 254 calories, while my app said 724. Which would you trust?

Replies

  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,198 Member
    I'm afraid I wouldn't trust either. According to my HRM, my typical 65 minute workout on the elliptical burns around 500 cals. The machine itself says around 750 and MFP says 926.
  • LindsayLouKY
    LindsayLouKY Posts: 2
    Thank you, acpgee! Good insight. What is a HRM, and where do I find one?
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    MFP is using a database where walking is based on formula more accurate than HRM - if you do the speed indicated level.

    Did you actually average that speed the whole time, or was treadmill aware of differences?

    Did treadmill know your weight like MFP does? Most allow you to enter it, most I've seen jump on don't enter it.

    Did you actually do an incline that treadmill knew about but MFP did not?

    Treadmill and bike are the only 2 things there that have been the most studied exercises around for actual measured calorie burn, and are pretty set as far as options. If level, pace is it.

    Elliptical has no good formula's because too many options, and your way of doing it could vary greatly. Not many different ways of walking or pedaling. HRM is best for elliptical. Or compare, if you reach say avg HR of 130 on treadmill and get burn of 500 in 1 hr, and you do the same effort on the elliptical, it's also 500.

    But you can see if your HRM is doing well at calculating by actually testing it against better formula.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/774337-how-to-test-hrm-for-how-accurate-calorie-burn-is
  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    Has anyone used the treadmill/elliptical/stationary bike to track how many calories you burn? And then plug the same exercise into MyFitnessPal, and had a major difference in the number? Treadmill said I burned 254 calories, while my app said 724. Which would you trust?
    Depends.

    If the treadmill allows you to enter age and weight, go with that. Otherwise, use MFP. Remember, you can change elevation on a treadmill, that MFP won't account for.

    Almost always go with an elliptical machines numbers over MFP. MFP has no idea how hard you worked. Thought experiment: Go at 20 strides per minute for 30 minutes. MFP has one number. Go at 60 SPM for 30 minutes. MFP gives you the same number as before, even though you worked twice as hard. Go at 60 SPM for 30 minutes with the resistance on high. MFP still gives you the same number. Use the machine. It knows how much work was needed to move the distance. It may be off because of the inefficiencies in the body, but it's much more accurate than MFP.

    An HRM (heart rate monitor) is the best route to go, of course. But be aware, that it's only accurate when you're in the aerobic zone of exercise. That's about 50% to 70% of your max heart rate. Any higher or lower, and the numbers start to skew pretty heavily. Most of the good ones will calculate a calorie burn for you based on your heart rate. Be sure to get one that has a strap, so it constantly monitors your HR. You can get them at wal-mart, sears, best buy, any sporting goods store (academy, ****s, etc), online, etc.
  • AvalonsUnicorn
    AvalonsUnicorn Posts: 425 Member
    Thank you, acpgee! Good insight. What is a HRM, and where do I find one?

    HRM is Heart Rate Monitor and you can buy them pretty much any where. The most popular ones on MFP are the Polar FT4 and the Polar FT7. I personal own an FT4 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    If the sole purpose of the HRM is for estimating calorie counts (since it doesn't measure that), you'll need a more expensive model that actually has required stats and self test to get them - otherwise watch is just making a bunch of assumptions.

    Even the more expensive models with lab tested stats can be off by decent amount.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/459580-polar-hrm-calorie-burn-estimate-accuracy-study

    Polar RS300X is the cheapest I've seen with required stats.
  • loubidy
    loubidy Posts: 440 Member
    Thank you, acpgee! Good insight. What is a HRM, and where do I find one?

    I have a Polar FT7 and I loooooove it. I got it off Amazon for cheaper than the website.
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