How do you track calories burned when you go to the gym?
caffienedayandnight
Posts: 6
Hi there,
I'm new to this and i'm trying to track all calories in and out. I'm struggling with how to do this when I go to the gym. When I walk/jog it's easy - run keeper tells me according to my pace/duration/weight/ ect. I'm struggling with how to track calories when I go to the gym to weight train. Since I am just beginning, I do a little bit of everything (legs, abs, arms, shoulders) with machines and free weights. I can't find anything appropriate to log it as in the exercise database on MFP, so I've been logging it as "calisthenics, light/mod effort." I know a good rule is to overestimate cals in and underestimate cals out, and this was the best option that I could find. I want to log it as SOMETHING, otherwise I don't feel like I'm getting "credited" for the exercise.
Do you log your cals burned when you go to the gym? If so, how?
I'm new to this and i'm trying to track all calories in and out. I'm struggling with how to do this when I go to the gym. When I walk/jog it's easy - run keeper tells me according to my pace/duration/weight/ ect. I'm struggling with how to track calories when I go to the gym to weight train. Since I am just beginning, I do a little bit of everything (legs, abs, arms, shoulders) with machines and free weights. I can't find anything appropriate to log it as in the exercise database on MFP, so I've been logging it as "calisthenics, light/mod effort." I know a good rule is to overestimate cals in and underestimate cals out, and this was the best option that I could find. I want to log it as SOMETHING, otherwise I don't feel like I'm getting "credited" for the exercise.
Do you log your cals burned when you go to the gym? If so, how?
0
Replies
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Get yourself a HRM. Thats what I used to use, but now I just use MapMyFitness seeing how my HRM broke.0
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Search for TDEE on the boards. It may be much easier for you rather than trying to guess how much you are burning at each session.0
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This content has been removed.
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Search for TDEE on the boards. It may be much easier for you rather than trying to guess how much you are burning at each session.
+10 -
I second the TDEE method.
Go here and enter your stats: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
Then it will spit out a calculation you want based on your goals, and you eat that many calories a day. You do not log exercise calories because they are already included in your TDEE. Much much much easier then figuring out how many calories you are burning.0 -
There is an option for "Strength Training" under Cardiovascular, that's what I use. It it generally agreed upon that MFP overestimates calories burned. If I don't have another way to log, I record about 2/3 of the time I spent exercising and go with that.0
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You cannot use an HRM for weight training.
I just use the MFP estimates, its as good as anything. You cannot accurately track weight lifting. It's typically around 200 to 300 for me, and most people will agree that the range is in the 150 to 300 range.
There is NO WAY to measure this. So, just go with something reasonable. You're safe with around 200.
^^This
What @Guitar Jerry wrote
I used to think otherwise, but reading on the forums I finally got it through my head that HRMs are only good for steady state cardio like walking on incline up treadmill, elliptical, stair stepper, running at constant pace.
Most people have advised me to pick a low number and live with that. The benefits of weight training go way beyond the instantaneous calorie burn.
Good luck!0 -
I don't bother counting weight training. like others have said it is only 100 - 300 calories. I do track cardio like walking.0
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There is an option for "Strength Training" under Cardiovascular, that's what I use. It it generally agreed upon that MFP overestimates calories burned. If I don't have another way to log, I record about 2/3 of the time I spent exercising and go with that.0
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I have a polar HRM and it is usually spot on. I use it during all my workouts ( cardio, strength, yoga, swim etc) and it is a great tool. Not sure why the young man above said you cant use a HRM during weight lifting, yeah you don't tend to burn as much as cardio but some of my weight training classes at the gym incorporate cardio in between sets to keep our heart rate up and I find that on a good day i can burn up to 450 -500 cals. To each his own but thats my take on it. hope you find what works for you.0
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I lift really weights (heavy is dependent on you! if it's hard to lift, it counts as heavy), so I want either my protein shake or quest bar afterward. Therefore I count those exercise calories! I usually put in 30 minutes of circuit training even if it takes me 45 minutes.0
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Get a Heart Rate Monitor for cardio and consider weight training as "icing on the cake". I have a Polar FT4. It's not too expensive and is way more accurate at calories burned than a machine or app. Happy exercising!0
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To log weight training, go under 'cardiovascular' and search for "Strength training (weight lifting, weight training)".
It gives you some calorie credit for weightlifting. Not a lot, but it's better than none.
I log the minutes of weightlifting & elliptical I do, plus in my exercise notes I record the info from the machine at the gym (time, distance, calories) which is usually about 2/3 of what MFP claims I burned.
I also have a pedometer app on my phone, which is more for general info than counting calories.
Usually I ignore exercise calories for the purpose of deciding how much to eat; I just aim to be consistently under my goal (currently 1700 cal).
If I'm really hungry at the end of the day, I'll eat back 1/3 to 1/2 of what the machine says I burned. Using the lower number ensures that I won't go over. That could amount to anything from nonfat yogurt & fruit to a half sandwich (usually turkey & cheese).
And if I do go over by a couple hundred, maybe I went to the Chinese buffet for lunch, I don't stress about it because I have that cushion from exercise.0 -
Hi there,
I'm new to this and i'm trying to track all calories in and out. I'm struggling with how to do this when I go to the gym. When I walk/jog it's easy - run keeper tells me according to my pace/duration/weight/ ect. I'm struggling with how to track calories when I go to the gym to weight train. Since I am just beginning, I do a little bit of everything (legs, abs, arms, shoulders) with machines and free weights. I can't find anything appropriate to log it as in the exercise database on MFP, so I've been logging it as "calisthenics, light/mod effort." I know a good rule is to overestimate cals in and underestimate cals out, and this was the best option that I could find. I want to log it as SOMETHING, otherwise I don't feel like I'm getting "credited" for the exercise.
Do you log your cals burned when you go to the gym? If so, how?
I dont track them at the gym nor do I estimate cals out.0 -
I don't bother counting weight training. like others have said it is only 100 - 300 calories. I do track cardio like walking.
I don't either. I don't intend to eat those calories back, as they're not many, so I just track my running (cardio).0
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