Which calories burned do I count?

cateliam
cateliam Posts: 1
edited September 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi All, so I've Finally started to add some exercise into my life and so far it is going pretty well. Im not sure how to count it in my daily calories though. My treadmill and eliptical at the gym are giving me a very different count on calories burned than My Fitness Pal does. MFP gives me nearly 400 calories burned for a run on the treadmill, but the equipment at the gym only gives me 170 calories burned. Anyone else having this problem? How are you counting?

Replies

  • Zsangel
    Zsangel Posts: 202
    I find that the equipment is usually more accurate than MFP because MFP doesn't take into account speed/levels/resistance etc =)
  • annie_p
    annie_p Posts: 319 Member
    Heart Rate Monitor! It's the only true way to know. I could've sworn I was burning so many more calories doing my 10 minute solution(and that could be the thought MFP put in my head...) but it really wasn't burning much. Same with walking. I would probably trust the machines a lot more than MFP. But like I said...get a heart rate monitor.
  • krystofk
    krystofk Posts: 1
    I agree with you, I put in that I ran for 80 mins and it gives me 1200 calories burned but I think this is a bit extreme. I don't have an answer for you but I would probably use the lower number. The main thing is you are doing the exercise.
  • nmcneill16
    nmcneill16 Posts: 12
    the most accurate way to calaculate your calorie burn is to get a heart rate monitor. i got one at target and it's been great because on some things it says i burn more than mfp and on other's it says i burn less. its all about the effort you put in:)
  • LeonaB17
    LeonaB17 Posts: 304
    The equipment at the gym should have the option to enter your weight. Are you using that option or just going with the quick start? Most machines use a base weight of 150 for the "quick start" mode. If you weigh more or less than that your number will be affected. Also - I use an elliptical machine at work sometimes (we have a fitness room there) and I enter my weight in it, and the number it gives me is significantly lower than the number MFP gives for elliptical. I go with what the machine says b/c it is taking into consideration the intensity of my workout - whereas the number in MFP is just one general number regardless of the intensity. If you really are unsure you may want to look into getting a heart rate monitor. They aren't fool proof, but it might give you a better idea of how many calories you are actually burning versus what a machine or a computer may estimate.
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    if the machine lets you enter your weight I count the machine. If not i trust MFP.
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