Calorie burn getting me down!

KellyBurton1
KellyBurton1 Posts: 529 Member
edited September 24 in Motivation and Support
Since I bought a HRM i really noticed how little my calorie burn is. The other day I read a post on how many calories you burn a day. And some people were burning up ot 1000 calories a day. Im lucky I can to 400 a day and thats not everyday cause Im either working, and in my spare time Im trying to get my house back in order or theres homework to get done. You could say its fusturating to know that I cant do the 1000 calories burn. I feel like Im doing bad or to lazy. After every day Im so exhausted from work and housework Im just drained. I do get a workout in 4 times a week. And log all my calories. But I feel fusturated. Anyone esle feeling like this?

Replies

  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    Yeah it's easy to feel run down when you are stretching yourself so thin (pun intended). Don't get down on yourself and be blessed that you don't have to work two jobs or go to school and work full time (like me) and can burn 400. I usually only get a 200 calorie a day burn, so I focus it on good calories. I do the 30 day shred because I feel like I have invested 20 minutes a day very well. Concentrate on burning calories as efficiently as possible and don't worry so much about what everybody else is doing!
  • LeenLeGrys
    LeenLeGrys Posts: 26
    First of all a huge congrats on your weight loss - wow! That's amazing! 400 calories is still a great calorie burn. What kind of exercise are you doing? When I do the treadmill my calorie burn is not nearly what it is if I am doing the stair climber or eliptical at the gym. Are you working out at home?
  • pyro13g
    pyro13g Posts: 1,127 Member
    The main point of moderate exercise is it's good for you. The crazy burns you see just means you have to eat more food. Or, if you want to eat more, you can use exercise to burn off a calorie surplus or create your deficit for weight loss.
  • Newfiedan
    Newfiedan Posts: 1,517 Member
    It depends on the accuracy of the hrm some cheap brands do not read that well, the more expensive ones do, ploar brands tend to be good and my sportline hrm does a good job, look for ones that are well established. The other thing to note is what is your heart rate over a given period of time during exercise, it varies for everyone do that is why cal burn is different. If you are really pushing hard during your routine then take an measurement off the machine and your hrm and divide by half that is probably more accurate. For instance I do a lot of HIIT training and get my heart rate up to about 160-170 bpm, so I can burn around 750-800 cal/hr no problem. 400 is not that bad for a hours worth of work if you are doing it at a beginner level or an intermediate level. So I would not feel bad as much as find what really works for you. Everyone is different comapring to others should not be a determiining factor in what you feel is good for you. Its more about improving your personal bests.
  • rdy2begin
    rdy2begin Posts: 170
    Look at it this way ..400 cals is a great burn and more than what it was before we started ..whether its 400 or 1000 you are working out and making changes,change is good and can be hard and demanding but NEVER compare YOU and your hard work to others ..its unfair to you ..You are doing remarkable so embrace that and if you feel like you can burn more than aim for that if not then be glad you are making a change LOOK AT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME !!! Keep up the excellent work !
  • kao708
    kao708 Posts: 813 Member
    First of all a huge congrats on your weight loss - wow! That's amazing! 400 calories is still a great calorie burn. What kind of exercise are you doing? When I do the treadmill my calorie burn is not nearly what it is if I am doing the stair climber or eliptical at the gym. Are you working out at home?

    I agree, congratulations! You have done an amazing job already.

    I wonder if the people that are burning 1000 calories a day are heavier than you are. It's very possible that they are burning more because they are heavier and that takes more energy to move and burn than a smaller person. They may also be people that don't have as many other activities in their life.

    I know I'm able to work out more now because I'm unemployed but when I was working full time I was in the same boat as you. After work and everything else you just don't want to work out. That is why I would make myself get up early and workout or go to the gym. I usually went at 3am just so I would have plenty of time and not be rushed but maybe even 30 minutes in the morning might help. I can tell you that I had a much better day (happier) when I got up early and worked out before work.

    Good luck to you and congratulations on your loss!
  • RedHotRunner
    RedHotRunner Posts: 850 Member
    Remember that heavier people burn more calories. I can run a half marathon and only burn 1300 calories, while someone who is bigger would burn 2000.

    Keep it in perspective and go easy on yourself.
  • dawny78
    dawny78 Posts: 132 Member
    I second everything alot have people have said you have come a great way with your fantastic weight loss well done . Just keep up your good work and 400 cals burn is better than none well done :)
  • KellyBurton1
    KellyBurton1 Posts: 529 Member
    It depends on the accuracy of the hrm some cheap brands do not read that well, the more expensive ones do, ploar brands tend to be good and my sportline hrm does a good job, look for ones that are well established. The other thing to note is what is your heart rate over a given period of time during exercise, it varies for everyone do that is why cal burn is different. If you are really pushing hard during your routine then take an measurement off the machine and your hrm and divide by half that is probably more accurate. For instance I do a lot of HIIT training and get my heart rate up to about 160-170 bpm, so I can burn around 750-800 cal/hr no problem. 400 is not that bad for a hours worth of work if you are doing it at a beginner level or an intermediate level. So I would not feel bad as much as find what really works for you. Everyone is different comapring to others should not be a determiining factor in what you feel is good for you. Its more about improving your personal bests.


    I bought the polar ft4. I have noticed my endurance has improved alot. But still needs work. I would burn 400 cals doing an hour of a workout. Alot more than I use to before. I just dont have the time or energy to do 2 -3 hours a day or either other day. My work days are split up into 3 shifts which doesnt give me alot of time in between. The only thing I can do is maybe a little strenght training for 1/2 hour 3 days a week. I dont have a gym here in town so I have to do workout video's, walk( which do not get a high calorie burn out of) and I have some hand weights and kettlebell.
  • KellyBurton1
    KellyBurton1 Posts: 529 Member
    First of all a huge congrats on your weight loss - wow! That's amazing! 400 calories is still a great calorie burn. What kind of exercise are you doing? When I do the treadmill my calorie burn is not nearly what it is if I am doing the stair climber or eliptical at the gym. Are you working out at home?


    I have huge series of workout video's, and weights. I do the 30 day shred sometimes, only when I can listen to Jillian Micheals. I like her workouts just because I know she can kick my *kitten*. But I really like Leslie sampsom, Walk away the pounds. She has all kinds of different workouts and I just pick out which one I feel like doing.
  • KellyBurton1
    KellyBurton1 Posts: 529 Member
    Look at it this way ..400 cals is a great burn and more than what it was before we started ..whether its 400 or 1000 you are working out and making changes,change is good and can be hard and demanding but NEVER compare YOU and your hard work to others ..its unfair to you ..You are doing remarkable so embrace that and if you feel like you can burn more than aim for that if not then be glad you are making a change LOOK AT HOW FAR YOU HAVE COME !!! Keep up the excellent work !

    Thank you, your very kind.
  • KellyBurton1
    KellyBurton1 Posts: 529 Member
    Thank you everyone. I know I have to realize that I have to stick with what works for me as well. Im really my own worst critic at times.
  • Newfiedan
    Newfiedan Posts: 1,517 Member
    lol i think we are all our own worst critics, I would also advise doing body measurements, sometimes weight loss can be counteracted somewhat to muscle growth, I managed to have an entire "fat feeling" week, its probably the worst I felt in a while about my weight loss and that was after I had cut an additonal 200 cals out of my diet to cycle cals for a week, yesterday I did my measurements compared to a week ago and I had lost inches, so it was more how I felt than how much I weighed and today when I weighed in I had lost 1.2 lbs so stick with it and do what works for you.
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