Insane Swimming Calories.

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Okay, so I distance swim open water in a lake doing a back stroke (normally) for an hour or usually more with the occasional break and this site is saying Im burning 1000 calories from 90 min worth of effort. I do get my heart rate up there but I dont exhaust myself so is this accurate?

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  • Wuggums
    Wuggums Posts: 339 Member
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    In general, I think MFP tends to overestimate calories burned. I use a Polar FT4 HRM while I swim because it is waterproof. I usually swim freestyle in an Endless Pool and burn about 180 calories for a 30-minute swim with no breaks, no flip turns, no pushing off, etc.
  • LindseySprake
    LindseySprake Posts: 333 Member
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    MFP tends to overestimate calories burned

    ^^This^^ definatley!
    I'd get a heart rate monitor, the only way to be sure.
  • 2fat2jump
    2fat2jump Posts: 5 Member
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    In general, I think MFP tends to overestimate calories burned. I use a Polar FT4 HRM while I swim because it is waterproof. I usually swim freestyle in an Endless Pool and burn about 180 calories for a 30-minute swim with no breaks, no flip turns, no pushing off, etc.

    I had the same experience during my swim workouts. My HRM said 200 calories for 45 minutes. It was kind of upsetting at first how few calories I burned, but I got over it. I like swimming too much.
  • Ainsleigh_W
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    In general, I think MFP tends to overestimate calories burned. I use a Polar FT4 HRM while I swim because it is waterproof. I usually swim freestyle in an Endless Pool and burn about 180 calories for a 30-minute swim with no breaks, no flip turns, no pushing off, etc.
    Cograts on you weight loss! I guess the best thing to do is just to ignore the calories from swimming.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
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    There are decent online swimming calorie calculators. Google for one. The MFP estimate sounds too high.
  • JAM07070
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    I've checked MFP vs other various calculators and MFP seems to be 15-20% higher.