Question re: Calories Burned from Exercise

enzosmama · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

meshashesha2012 · July 2014

no, MFP numbers are high but it all evens out because they set people's calorie goals kinda low, so if they are eating those elevated calories back it should about even out.

tjmiller83 · July 2014

I have started using MapMyFitness for exercise as it seems to be more comprehensive and allows for my iPhone GPS to track distance, elevation, and speed.

I have a Withings Pulse o2 that is supposed to know the difference between being a pedometer and actual intense activity but after 3 months, issues are starting.

That's why I have been integrating MapMyFitness which will integrate with MFP and includes many more options for exercise including housework and usage of resistance to workout (hiking with weights or pushing a stroller)

Amyways, good luck. I hate using 3 apps but since I have prioritized my health over the last 4 months, it is a routine unlike the ones I had before and I feel great.

I am down over 60lbs since I started.

-TJM

heybales · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

You are confusing some things.

Your point is about your Diet goals, and your Fitness goals.
The Fitness goals do NOT affect the math for your Diet goals.

Diet goals is totally based on your BMR and the daily non-exercise activity level you selected which creates a daily non-exercise maintenance, and the weight loss goal causes your eating goal to be less than that.

Fitness goals is merely the minutes and days and calories you would like to try to burn in exercise. Look at your Exercise Diary, shows how much of your goal you have reached so far.

And did you know when you manually log that workout, after entering the time of the workout, you enter in your own calorie burn from your HRM?

Then you eat the new daily goal given to you.

Most people don't even notice those Fitness goals, they do exactly what you've done, confuse them with diet goals. MFP has very poor setup in that regard.

whatyouwill · July 2014

I have started using MapMyFitness for exercise as it seems to be more comprehensive and allows for my iPhone GPS to track distance, elevation, and speed.

I have a Withings Pulse o2 that is supposed to know the difference between being a pedometer and actual intense activity but after 3 months, issues are starting.

That's why I have been integrating MapMyFitness which will integrate with MFP and includes many more options for exercise including housework and usage of resistance to workout (hiking with weights or pushing a stroller)

Amyways, good luck. I hate using 3 apps but since I have prioritized my health over the last 4 months, it is a routine unlike the ones I had before and I feel great.

I am down over 60lbs since I started.

-TJM

That's cool.

I use Strava for Running and Cycling, but when it imports the data, MFP overrides the Calorie output and it is WAY higher than Strava suggests. Especially for Cycling. Just for my own sanity, I use the lower, Strava estimate.

enzosmama · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

You are confusing some things.

Your point is about your Diet goals, and your Fitness goals.
The Fitness goals do NOT affect the math for your Diet goals.

Diet goals is totally based on your BMR and the daily non-exercise activity level you selected which creates a daily non-exercise maintenance, and the weight loss goal causes your eating goal to be less than that.

Fitness goals is merely the minutes and days and calories you would like to try to burn in exercise. Look at your Exercise Diary, shows how much of your goal you have reached so far.

And did you know when you manually log that workout, after entering the time of the workout, you enter in your own calorie burn from your HRM?

Then you eat the new daily goal given to you.

Most people don't even notice those Fitness goals, they do exactly what you've done, confuse them with diet goals. MFP has very poor setup in that regard.

I'm actually not confusing them, I am talking strictly about the Fitness goals- not my daily calorie intake/diet goals. My concern is that MFP has me set at burning a (what I think is) a significantly higher calorie count than I actually do with my workouts. So does my body tend to burn a lower rate of calories when I'm working out, is MFP set high for my calorie burn, or is it something else?

And yes, I do manually enter in my own calorie burn from my HRM. That's kind of the whole point of using it to track my burn vs. using what MFP automatically gives me.

RllyGudTweetr · July 2014

You could always google "Exercise Calorie Calculator," plug your numbers into several different sites, and take an average.

ucfeng02 · July 2014

I think MFP over-estimates. I use a HRM to track stuff - I take boot camp style class and cardio dance class/zumba. For 60 min of Zumba, MFP will say I burned 8XX calories but I usually burn closer to 550. I have never paid attention to what it said I should burn since I put I would work out 3 days a week for 30 min but I do know when you pick the preset generic excersice options its very high so I wouldnt be surprised it the other values are inflated also. I think burning 500 calories in 60 min it

ksy1969 · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

MFP's exercise goals are irrelevent. It is setting them based on what it thinks you would burn in 2 hours and 15 minutes (3 x 45 minutes) of working out. Anyone who has been around here awhile, knows MFP over inflates the burned calorie calculations for exercise. That part of MFP does not effect anything. It is only a goal you set but is not part of any other calculations.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

At this point though, I would question your HRM settings. What type of HRM do you have? It is important that it be one with a chest strap. I have a POLAR FT4 and I am supposed to reset it for every 5lb fluctuation in weight.

Laurenloveswaffles · July 2014

MFP overestimates calories.

Look up your TDEE and use that number instead of what MFP gives you.
http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

Your TDEE will include your activity level and include them in your calorie goal for each day (so you don't have to stress about how much you actually burned on MFP)

If you decide to use this method, do not log any exercise. Unless you want to keep track, then change calories burned to 0 or 1 calorie.

Edited: because I included a link to cook steak, not a TDEE link. Fixed

enzosmama · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

MFP's exercise goals are irrelevent. It is setting them based on what it thinks you would burn in 2 hours and 15 minutes (3 x 45 minutes) of working out. Anyone who has been around here awhile, knows MFP over inflates the burned calorie calculations for exercise. That part of MFP does not effect anything. It is only a goal you set but is not part of any other calculations.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

At this point though, I would question your HRM settings. What type of HRM do you have? It is important that it be one with a chest strap. I have a POLAR FT4 and I am supposed to reset it for every 5lb fluctuation in weight.

I have a Polar FT7 with chest strap and reset it for every 1 lb loss (I wasn't sure how many lbs you were supposed to rest for, so I have just been doing it for every lb to be safe)

likitisplit · July 2014

At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter. Eat the calories MFP gives you. Eat back exercise calories. Log your weight loss. If your weight loss = your "deficit" then you're golden, no matter what black magic of estimation went into the formula.

If you aren't losing at the rate you expect, reduce your calorie goal (or weigh and measure your food, or add fewer exercise calories) until you are.

lemurcat12 · July 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

I've never looked at the exercise goal MFP set (it's based on how much you said you were planning to exercise), but MFP's estimates of exercise calories tend to be high, so I assume the same would apply.

Like others said, though, it doesn't matter. Sometimes people assume that their calorie goal and estimated loss per week are based on the exercise goal, since MFP asks about this during set up, but the way MFP works they are not. MFP sets the calories and estimated loss on the assumption that you aren't exercising unless you log exercise, and that's why you get more calories when you do, to keep the overall goal consistent.

So if you log exercise with the numbers you think are right, it all should work out--although obviously pay attention to results and adjust.

TriShamelessly · July 2014

[/quote]

I'm actually not confusing them, I am talking strictly about the Fitness goals- not my daily calorie intake/diet goals. My concern is that MFP has me set at burning a (what I think is) a significantly higher calorie count than I actually do with my workouts. So does my body tend to burn a lower rate of calories when I'm working out, is MFP set high for my calorie burn, or is it something else?

And yes, I do manually enter in my own calorie burn from my HRM. That's kind of the whole point of using it to track my burn vs. using what MFP automatically gives me.
[/quote]

You can go in and adjust the preset calorie burns (i.e., your target burns) through Custom Settings rather than rely on the Guided section. More importantly, there are different ways to maintain a deficit. The MFP way is to eat back exercise calories. Others will follow the TDEE - 15/20% route in order to even out the food intake over the course of a few days, week, whatever.. It really depends on what works for you. I prefer a modified MFP approach since I am usually ravenous the day after my long runs/rides or a triathlon. Best of luck in finding what works for you.

heybales · August 2014

Does anyone find MFP's goals for calories burned during exercise are high? Maybe it's me and I burn lower than average calories during my workouts... IDK.

For example, I am 5'6" and currently at 264.2 lbs. I have MFP set at 3 workouts of 45 minutes per week. The weekly calorie burn goal from workouts MFP has set for me is 1310.

So far I've had 2 workouts this week- a 55 minute barre class during which I typically burn around 300 calories (it's not cardio, so I don't expect a huge burn) and yesterday I did 44 minutes on the bike and only burned around 265 calories. I worked pretty hard during my bike session yesterday- I was dripping in sweat when I was done and my average HR was around 146.

I wear a HRM during my workouts to ensure I'm more accurately accounting for my calorie burn.

So is it me? Am I just burning lower than average calories? Or are MFP's calorie burn goals a little out of whack? I know I can probably manually set them, but I was just curious what the thoughts were on this. Thanks!

You are confusing some things.

Your point is about your Diet goals, and your Fitness goals.
The Fitness goals do NOT affect the math for your Diet goals.

Diet goals is totally based on your BMR and the daily non-exercise activity level you selected which creates a daily non-exercise maintenance, and the weight loss goal causes your eating goal to be less than that.

Fitness goals is merely the minutes and days and calories you would like to try to burn in exercise. Look at your Exercise Diary, shows how much of your goal you have reached so far.

And did you know when you manually log that workout, after entering the time of the workout, you enter in your own calorie burn from your HRM?

Then you eat the new daily goal given to you.

Most people don't even notice those Fitness goals, they do exactly what you've done, confuse them with diet goals. MFP has very poor setup in that regard.

I'm actually not confusing them, I am talking strictly about the Fitness goals- not my daily calorie intake/diet goals. My concern is that MFP has me set at burning a (what I think is) a significantly higher calorie count than I actually do with my workouts. So does my body tend to burn a lower rate of calories when I'm working out, is MFP set high for my calorie burn, or is it something else?

And yes, I do manually enter in my own calorie burn from my HRM. That's kind of the whole point of using it to track my burn vs. using what MFP automatically gives me.

Again - MFP does NOT have you "set at burning a significantly higher calorie count than" you actually do during your workouts. That may indeed be the fact.

MFP has set a goal based on who knows what - end of story for that number. Really. Not used for anything anyway, except Fitness Diary page - that's it.

You can change those Fitness goal calories burned to whatever your heart desires.

At that point in time during setup, it's obviously based on nothing but your selection of days a week and minutes per workout.

Mine from first setup appears to assume 400 cal per session of 60 min each. I'd have to be walking or doing a pretty poor workout to only get 400 in 60 min. or lifting.
But it again, it has no idea what you are going to be doing, so it's merely a goal based on who knows what.

Frankly - as many people get confused with it and don't even see that in the exercise diary, based on the fact they have had issues with it in the past that got barely any complaints about it - they probably haven't even reviewed how it makes a goal guess.

The proof of this is look at how many responses to your topic have nothing to do with your comment about the Fitness Goal, but rather the exercise database. The ones responding that way don't even know what you are talking about probably, and assume you mean calories burned in logging exercise and just phrased it incorrectly.

I guess I'm wondering why you think it matters - since it has no bearing on anything related to eating levels, or your actual workouts, ect.

I'll bet whoever first did that bit of logic is gone from MFP, or whoever did it forgot by now.

Question re: Calories Burned from Exercise

Replies

Categories