Calories burned based on doctor's test

newbeautifulme
newbeautifulme Posts: 112
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I had an indirect calorimetry test done to measure my RMR. The test said that for 30 minutes of moderate exercise, I would burn about 200 calories. Moderate exercise would be an average heart rate between 70-80% of my max heart rate.

Since we eat our workout calories, I want to make sure I am figuring out calorie burn accurately. I am wondering if I should use the indirect calorimetry test results to figure my calorie burn INSTEAD OF what the gym machine says.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • EDBENAGLIO
    EDBENAGLIO Posts: 424
    Moderate exercise would be an average heart rate between 70-80% of my max heart rate. SORRY DON'T SEE THAT AS MODERATE. THAT IS IN THE CARIDO RANGE
  • david081
    david081 Posts: 489 Member
    HR monitor is really the best way
  • upnorthtim
    upnorthtim Posts: 376 Member
    Not sure which is better. I use a heart rate monitor that takes into account my age, weight etc. to calculate my calories. In almost every case I find that the gym machines overestimate the actual number of calories burned. Which one is really correct? Who knows! I go by the more conservative numebr from my HRM to make sure I don't overeat. BTW - I hardly ever eat all my exercise calories but I know that is not PC around here.
  • newbeautifulme
    newbeautifulme Posts: 112
    Moderate exercise would be an average heart rate between 70-80% of my max heart rate. SORRY DON'T SEE THAT AS MODERATE. THAT IS IN THE CARIDO RANGE

    I was just going with what it says here: http://exercise.about.com/od/cardioworkouts/g/targetheartratezones.htm

    Low Intensity: 60% to 70%

    This zone keeps you at a comfortably low intensity and is a good choice as a warm up or for beginners because it helps you develop aerobic fitness for more intense exercise.

    Moderate Intensity: 70% to 80%

    This zone kicks up the intensity, improving your body's ability to transport oxygen throughout the body and conditioning your heart. You'll burn more calories in this zone, as well. Experts often recommend working at a moderate intensity to build fitness and lose weight. This Endurance Workout is a good example of moderate intensity cardio.

    High Intensity: 80% to 90%

    Working in this zone takes you out of your comfort zone and allows you to burn more calories while improving your VO2 Max and raise your anaerobic threshold. This High Intensity Aerobic Intervals Workout offers an example of a higher intensity workout.

    Maximum Effort: 90% to 100%

    Working at this level means you're working as hard as you can, as in all-out springs or very high intensity interval training. Most of us can only sustain this level of effort for a short period of time, making this the toughest zone and more appropriate for advanced exercisers. This Sprint Interval Workout offers an example of training at maximum effort with rests in between work intervals.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    I had an indirect calorimetry test done to measure my RMR. The test said that for 30 minutes of moderate exercise, I would burn about 200 calories. Moderate exercise would be an average heart rate between 70-80% of my max heart rate.

    Since we eat our workout calories, I want to make sure I am figuring out calorie burn accurately. I am wondering if I should use the indirect calorimetry test results to figure my calorie burn INSTEAD OF what the gym machine says.

    Thoughts?

    I would calculate it based on the test as gym machines are often inaccurate, sometimes overestimating calorie burn as much as 30%
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    indirect calorimetry 100% of the time trumps either RPE or a heart rate monitor, because it measures the actual oxygen consumption during activity. Since during aerobic activity you are burning your calories with oxygen this is a very accurate way to measure your calories. The only way to more accurately predict calories that I'm aware of is direct calorimetry, but that's far more invasive and expensive from what I'm told (never tried one).

    And yes, 70% to 80% HR max is considered moderate exercise.

    So I'd use that number over the HRM if you're in that range. What was the actual HR average they gave you for the test?
  • newbeautifulme
    newbeautifulme Posts: 112
    indirect calorimetry 100% of the time trumps either RPE or a heart rate monitor, because it measures the actual oxygen consumption during activity. Since during aerobic activity you are burning your calories with oxygen this is a very accurate way to measure your calories. The only way to more accurately predict calories that I'm aware of is direct calorimetry, but that's far more invasive and expensive from what I'm told (never tried one).

    And yes, 70% to 80% HR max is considered moderate exercise.

    So I'd use that number over the HRM if you're in that range. What was the actual HR average they gave you for the test?

    They didn't monitor my heart rate during the test. They had me breathing through a tube with my nose plugged for 10 minutes.
  • SHBoss1673
    SHBoss1673 Posts: 7,161 Member
    indirect calorimetry 100% of the time trumps either RPE or a heart rate monitor, because it measures the actual oxygen consumption during activity. Since during aerobic activity you are burning your calories with oxygen this is a very accurate way to measure your calories. The only way to more accurately predict calories that I'm aware of is direct calorimetry, but that's far more invasive and expensive from what I'm told (never tried one).

    And yes, 70% to 80% HR max is considered moderate exercise.

    So I'd use that number over the HRM if you're in that range. What was the actual HR average they gave you for the test?
    bahh. that's to bad. It would have been good to know the average heart rate during that test. You could have put ratios against all of your workouts in that range (70% to 80%)
    They didn't monitor my heart rate during the test. They had me breathing through a tube with my nose plugged for 10 minutes.
  • newbeautifulme
    newbeautifulme Posts: 112
    Thanks for the feedback everyone! I will go with the indirect calorimetry results.
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