My HRM says what???

I personally always go with my HRM whether it's higher or lower than what the machine or MFP says. Because MFP doesn't track your heart rate, it's just a general or average they use for your height and weight.

I can't wait to see people's responses to your question, because I wonder that too!

I have actually noticed that there is a discrepancy between MFP's exercise calories burned and an HRM. I don't really understand why they are so much drastically lower. I don't have a personal HRM yet, but when I do, I will be inputting what is on the HRM and NOT the MFP site.

I am doing the 30 day shred and I noticed the girls that use the HRM burn about triple the amount of calories as I do according to MFP.

I don't know which is right, but its definitely thought provoking.

Does your HRM allow you to enter your personal data, like Age, weight and sex? If not, that could add to some inaccuracy. Also, it sounds like it isn't constantly monitoring your HR either.

However, I also do intervals on the treadmill for 40 minutes a couple times a week. 5 min warm up and 5 minute cool down, then run 2 minutes at 7 mph, walk 1 minutes at 4 mph all at 5 degree incline and I burn +/-550 calories as a 42 year old male that weighs 190.

To my knowledge (which I freely admit is incorrect at times), the calories you burn are based on your sex, age, height, weight, lean muscle mass, the level of exertion, etc. So MFP probably gives you an average calories burned based on your weight, sex, and height. Most HRMs have you enter your statistics for sex, height, and weight when you set them up. Heart rate monitors allow you to track your level of exertion for a more accurate calorie burn.

If you do the exact same exercise over a period of time (ex: walk 30 minutes steady state on the treadmill), you will probably notice that the calories burned are decreasing because your fitness level is increasing and you exert yourself less for the same activity. The machine wont reflect that change, nor will MFP, but your HRM should. Furthermore, many cardio machines require you to hold onto some handle bars to get your HR. When you hold on to these bars, you may exert less effort than if you had your hands at your side. And, many of these machines are not regularly calibrated, so their readings may be off from that.

Also, keep in mind that the more someone weighs, the more calories that are burned for the same activities. So, a 30 year old 5'4 female who weighs 150 pounds burns a lot less calories than a 30 year old 5'4 female who weighs 250 pounds if both walk on a treadmill for 30 minutes at a 0% incline at a 3.5 speed. It takes more energy to move a bigger body. So in summary, if you set up your HRM correctly, it is best to trust that. There will still be some degree of error because they don't track things like lean muscle mass and your metabolism, but it generally more accurate. Just remember to change your weight on your HRM whenever you lose/gain 5 or 10 pounds.

Keep in mind that MFP does not factor in incline on a treadmill or resistance on an elliptical or stationary bike. When I run on lower inclines on the treadmill then MFP is closer to my HRM calories. But the higher incline I go, the larger and larger the discrepancy. Same with the elliptical and my resistance level. So as long as you have all of the info set properly in your HRM, I'd say to go with the number that gives you. Though, I'd also look towards getting one with a chest strap eventually as well, so you don't have to worry about constantly manually getting a reading.

My HRM has a wrist band along with the chest band. (constant monitoring) If I'm on the eliptical for 45-50 min I burn an average of 500-600 cal. Depending on my speed and resistance. It also depends on your weight and age as to where your HR is. Also, I believe, men burn more calories than women. (I think) My boyfriend and I work out together and he always burns more than me...........
I say, if your HRM says you burn "X" amount, GO with it! It's going to be much more accurate than most gym equipment.
Way to go!!!!!

In 50 mins of brisk walking + jogging in intervals outside, I burn, according to my HRM, about 590-620. So if you burn more than me per min (maybe a higher weight or a faster metabolism for some reason) you could easily hit 670 in 45 mins. It does sound like a lot, but I can see it being right.

I'm confused why your HRM wouldn't need your weight. Mine changes so slightly each time I lose weight and enter in the new number. If you can afford it - try getting a monitor that asks for height/weight/age/sex AND comes with a chest strap so you don't have to tell it to do it's job... it's doing it's job the entire time.