calories burned

NikG29
NikG29 Posts: 8 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
What is an accurate way to tell how many calories I have burned? I know MFP says one thing when I put in my diary but don't feel that's totally accurate.

Replies

  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    What are you doing to burn calories?
  • NikG29
    NikG29 Posts: 8 Member
    I do mostly home workouts. So I will jog in place, or I follow Jillian Michaels videos. And then I also do stuff that includes weights
  • Branstin
    Branstin Posts: 2,320 Member
    There are severall free apps that sync with MFP. Look in the APPS section above. I caution you to be mindful because many gadgets, APPS, and machines tend to overestimate calories burn so eat back a portion at a time.

    If you want to fine tune your burn a bit better a heart rate monitor will help if you want to spend the money. I am not too sure if they work as well with weights as with cardio.

    I used MapMyWalk from the APPS section above and eat back some of my exercise calories.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I do mostly home workouts. So I will jog in place, or I follow Jillian Michaels videos. And then I also do stuff that includes weights

    Calorie burns are dependent upon MANY factors (some of which are): height, weight, age, gender, and exertion level. The more information you plug into a calculator (machine, on-line.....whatever) the better the estimate.

    It's still an estimate .........no calculator (machine) can know your exertion level. The same workout that is difficult for you ..... may be easy for someone else.

    It's best to use the lowest number or at least an average. A heart rate monitor (with a chest strap) or HRM measures electrical impulses and compares to your resting heart rate....this is a pretty good indicator of exertion level (for steady state cardio).

    Many MFP users will adjust calorie burns down to eat back just a portion of calories. If you use this method, eat more if you feel run down. Eat less if your weight loss stalls for awhile.
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    Honestly, I dont even bother with calculating or paying attention to calorie burns because they are so inaccurate.

    Eat at your deficit and exercise. The cals burned while exercising is a bonus.

    Some change their settings to get around it. Maybe if you want to lose 2 lbs a week, put in 1-1.5 lbs and see what MFP gives you for the calories/day and then exercise is just a bonus. That gives you a built in cushion and more calories to consume and still lose weight and even more with calorie burn without having to GUESTimate how many were burned and eating some of the back.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    Honestly, I dont even bother with calculating or paying attention to calorie burns because they are so inaccurate.

    Eat at your deficit and exercise. The cals burned while exercising is a bonus.

    Some change their settings to get around it. Maybe if you want to lose 2 lbs a week, put in 1-1.5 lbs and see what MFP gives you for the calories/day and then exercise is just a bonus. That gives you a built in cushion and more calories to consume and still lose weight and even more with calorie burn without having to GUESTimate how many were burned and eating some of the back.

    With 4 pounds to go - OP really can't make this work. For that 1/2 pound a week is (likely) her max.

    Another option is TDEE ....less a deficit. TDEE includes the estimated exercise.

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
  • thavoice
    thavoice Posts: 1,326 Member
    Honestly, I dont even bother with calculating or paying attention to calorie burns because they are so inaccurate.

    Eat at your deficit and exercise. The cals burned while exercising is a bonus.

    Some change their settings to get around it. Maybe if you want to lose 2 lbs a week, put in 1-1.5 lbs and see what MFP gives you for the calories/day and then exercise is just a bonus. That gives you a built in cushion and more calories to consume and still lose weight and even more with calorie burn without having to GUESTimate how many were burned and eating some of the back.

    With 4 pounds to go - OP really can't make this work. For that 1/2 pound a week is (likely) her max.

    Another option is TDEE ....less a deficit. TDEE includes the estimated exercise.

    http://iifym.com/tdee-calculator/
    Didnt see that part....but it still works for her as she can set it at 1/2 and not count exercise and not eat them back, or set it as maintenance and exercise.

    Either way...accurately coming up with calories burned and eating them back is a tough thing to do as most things overestimate the burn
  • NikG29
    NikG29 Posts: 8 Member
    Thank you all for your advice.

Categories