How many calories am I really burning?!? (HRM vs Bike vs MFP

Does your HRM have a chest strap? I'd always go with what your HRM says! I have the Polar FT7!

I am with a few others on here! I go with my HRM definitely! It has a strap around my chest and is way more accurate than the machines, because the machines don't ask age, weight, and you aren't constantly checking your HR when on a machine. I say the HRM is right.

NO way does anyone burn 900 calories an hour on a stationary bike.

Definitely go with the HRM.

Ok, I'm going to put in my 2 cents because I've had the same dilemma myself. The equipment (treadmill, AMT, elliptical) I use at the gym all ask my weight and age. On the treadmill, I've found the calories burned readings on my Polar F4 (with chest strap) to be very similar (a smidge lower) than the reading on the treadmill. So when I use the treadmill, I've always gone with the HRM number.

However; when I use the AMT (combo stairmaster, elliptical kind of thing, works arms too), the readings are vastly different (sometimes 200 calories higher on the machine). On the AMT, I am sweating like crazy within about 5 minutes and feel like I'm getting a much tougher work out than on the treadmill where I start sweating after 25 minutes. I have to really work to keep my heart rate in range (keep from going to high), whereas it takes me a long time to get to the upper range of my hr on the treadmill (guess I need to up the resistance or incline!). Just as example: AMT HRM calories burned in 65 minutes: 505, AMT calories burned according to machine 65 min: 728.

When I use the AMT I do go with what the machine says as I think it may take into account the amount of calories burned for the resistance level (and use of arms too) versus just heart rate.

I may be wrong, but it make sense to me that when your thighs (your largest muscle group) and arms (on the AMT) are having to push harder to get somewhere they burn more calories regardless of hr (plus the more fit you become the more your hr goes down, causing you to up your resistance/go faster...). I could get the same calories burned walking on flat ground if I went with the HRM numbers, but that doesn't take into account the use of the arms.

I split the difference (go on the lower side) when I use the elliptical), since again, I feel it takes in to account the amount of effort (calories burned) for the resistance level. AMT and elliptical are the only times I deviate from the HRM numbers.

Anyone please feel free to weigh in (little giggle) on this as I too have been a little unsure of which to go with!

Ok, I'm going to put in my 2 cents because I've had the same dilemma myself. The equipment (treadmill, AMT, elliptical) I use at the gym all ask me my weight and age and I've found the calories burned readings on my Polar F4 to be very similar (a smidge lower) than the reading on the treadmill. So on that, I've always gone with the HRM number.

However; when I use the AMT (combo stairmaster, elliptical kind of thing, works arms too), the readings are vastly different (sometimes 200 calories higher on the machine). But, on the AMT, I am sweating like crazy within about 5 minutes and feel like I'm getting a much tougher work out than on the treadmill where I start sweating about 25 minutes into a workout). I have to really work to keep my heart rate in range (keep from going to high), whereas it takes me a long time to get to the upper range of my hr on the treadmill (guess I need to up the resistance or incline!). Just as example: AMT HRM calories burned in 65 minutes: 505, AMT calories burned according to machine 65 min: 728.

When I use the AMT I do go with what the machine says as I think it may take into account the amount of calories burned for the resistance level versus just heart rate.

I may be wrong on that, but it make sense to me that when your thighs (your largest muscle group) are having to push harder to get somewhere they burn more calories regardless of hr (plus the more fit you become the more your hr goes down, causing you to up your resistance/go faster...).

Anyone please feel free to weigh in (little giggle) on this as I to have been a little unsure of which to go with!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Well this is interesting for sure. I recommend sticking with your HRM on all machines since it still is the most accurate. Your AMT sounds like MFP in regards to the high calorie burn they give to Elliptical machines just because it is more effort involved. If you are fit and as you get fitter, you are going to burn less calories no matter how hard you work and sweat.

Sweating is cooling off your body, not an indication of how good your heart is working or HR......:-) I have noticed when you are using your legs more you can sweat like a pig but no difference in HR. That is why important to mix it up and do low HR workouts with more vigorous workouts also.

When I was working with a trainer I sweated like a pig but did not burn too many more calories than if I were on a bike. The difference was her workouts really helped me lose a lot of inches and toned up my body much more than just doing the stuff I was doing.

That is my 2 cents......:-)

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