Figuring Exercise Calories... Help

attybell
attybell Posts: 81 Member
in Getting Started
I see a lot of people on my friends list that add their specific workout and calories burned for example T25, Jillian Michaels workout, just dance on the wii, Rockin with the oldies ect. I did a biggest loser boot camp video last night that was 35 minutes and could not find a way to log it except by just adding circuit training because it was full body with weights .. Just wondering how to individualize your workouts to get a pretty accurate calorie burn

Replies

  • fit_gal
    fit_gal Posts: 167
    I use this site for working out my Pilates as the one on fitness pal app is way out.

    http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    All of the burns are just estimates. The only way to get remotely accurate cardio burns is with a HRM (heart-rate monitor).

    To compensate, many people just eat back half their exercise calories. It will take trial & error to find what works for you.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • karentalty
    karentalty Posts: 52 Member
    I always use a heart rate monitor for mine! It's the only way as the amount of calories burned differs!
  • RBXChas
    RBXChas Posts: 2,708 Member
    All of the burns are just estimates. The only way to get remotely accurate cardio burns is with a HRM (heart-rate monitor).

    To compensate, many people just eat back half their exercise calories. It will take trial & error to find what works for you.

    Read this: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    ^This

    The other option is, if you are regularly active, to calculate your TDEE including exercise (then cut a percentage), then don't eat back any exercise calories.

    Read this for more info if you need more guidance on what I just posted: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf
  • ctinawilson
    ctinawilson Posts: 127 Member
    Really sorry to burst the HRM bubble, but a HRM calorie burn is based on a very similar 'guestimate' to that of a calorie calculator on the net, or MFP. They take your age, height, weight etc and find an average burn. Having said that, I believe if you go for a very advanced, top of the range HRM, then they take into account your VO2 max and even more complicated scientific things, which could get you closer to that 'true' burn figure.

    In other words, what HRM's are fantastic for is... monitoring heart rate. Calorie count is just a desirable add on that I'm sure helps them sell oodles of the things, but really has no more scientific accuracy than an online calculator that uses your measurements to give you a figure. I say this from experience… £70 of experience haha.

    I have always found it difficult to work out a more accurate 'calories burned'. It takes time and patience, but trial and error is probably the best way. I would agree that MFP calories burned always seems really high, so maybe cut that by 25%, try for a few weeks, if you're not getting the expected affect, adjust again, and again, until it seems to be right… sorry, not great advice, but the only way i've been able to track it correctly.

    Plus don't forget that weight training and HIIT cause an 'after burn' which can last a day or so. This is even harder to figure out!

    Not suggesting you use their workouts, but the guys who run FitnessBlender.com have really carefully considered the whole 'calories burned' question, and try to explain it as best they can - as well as having hundreds of free workout videos, recipes etc.
    http://www.fitnessblender.com/v/articles/?str=calories+burned

    Hope this helped!
    Christina
  • skyeny
    skyeny Posts: 51 Member
    I do use HRM, but more to entertain myself then for anything else. It's my cool adult toy. I don't eat back all those calories, maybe only 100-200cal per an hour of workout.
    IMHO, you work out, that's all that matters. Either it's 300 or 800 an hour (as long as you are not planning on eating them back) - doesn't matter.... Only your body knows the exact amount and there is no way for us to know it for sure. I log in what my HRM says, but the same way I could just log in the MFP default settings, or just a random amount of calories per hour. I also sometimes pre-log elliptical and actually do running, and don't bother changing on MPF. I log my workouts mainly to see how often I workout and the time I spent working out. But again, I allow myself to eat back only 100-200 cal per hour of workout. This works for me. I know I burn way more than that, and MPF suggests eating it back (or like most people say 1/2 of the amount), but I have my way of doing it, and I'm feeling good.
    p.s. I always log the amount of calories my HRM shows minus 100cal/hr for a normal calorie burn. I don't know why I'm doing that. Maybe because I've got a degree in accounting, and I have to count something lol
  • neeta16
    neeta16 Posts: 22 Member
    What exactly does 'eat out or eat back exercise calories Mean??
  • neeta16
    neeta16 Posts: 22 Member
    Also,I think if you are wearing a hrm with a chest strap, it does accurately count calories burned for you, more than any other random calorie counter online
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    What exactly does 'eat back exercise calories' mean??
    MFP is set up in such a way that your calorie goal is your activity level minus your deficit. When you log your exercise, you are given more calories to eat.

    Read the Sexypants post: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    Really sorry to burst the HRM bubble, but a HRM calorie burn is based on a very similar 'guestimate' to that of a calorie calculator on the net, or MFP.
    I agree—which is why I said heart rate monitor burns are "remotely accurate."

    All burns (+ all calorie counts) are estimates. Which is why weight loss takes so much trial & effort to find what works for you.

    The Sexypants post should be required reading for all MFPers: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    Also,I think if you are wearing a hrm with a chest strap, it does accurately count calories burned for you, more than any other random calorie counter online

    No, it accurately monitors your heart rate since that is what is designed to do. The calories burned is just an estimate.

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