Calories burned..database vs. real life???

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ohthatbambi
ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
When I go to the gym my calories burned is much different from what is listed in this database. Equipment at my gym always shows less than what they allow here. I have been going by MFP database but I am wondering how accurate it is. Is anyone else having discrepancies b/t in their calories burned? Just wondering which one to actually go by. It makes difference in extra eatable calories and I certainly don't want to eat too much. Advice please!!

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  • ohthatbambi
    ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
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    When I go to the gym my calories burned is much different from what is listed in this database. Equipment at my gym always shows less than what they allow here. I have been going by MFP database but I am wondering how accurate it is. Is anyone else having discrepancies b/t in their calories burned? Just wondering which one to actually go by. It makes difference in extra eatable calories and I certainly don't want to eat too much. Advice please!!
  • baldwin0125
    baldwin0125 Posts: 4
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    I go by what the gym equipment says b/c the elliptical asks my weight, age, etc. I adjust the time on MFP to reflect the calories my gym equipment said. For example, if I worked out for 35 minutes and burned 300 calories according to the elliptical, then I put in 31 minutes and it shows 300 calories burned. Hope it helps. Ask your gym if the machines are acurate as well.
  • Anna_Banana
    Anna_Banana Posts: 2,939 Member
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    If the machine asks for your height and weight I would go by it. These numbers here are just averages (I think). It takes a lot more calories for a 6 ft 7, 300 pound guy to do the same thing as a 5 ft 2, 120 pound woman.
  • deanea
    deanea Posts: 1,437
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    I have compared my treadmill cals to other websites, to MFP. The cals on MFP are consistant with other web sites; my treadmill claims I burn more when my stats are entered. I go by MFP's numbers now.
  • kaybee176
    kaybee176 Posts: 11 Member
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    You can go in and change the calories burned when you input your exercises. Just where it says calories type in how much you actually burned. Hope it helps.
  • ohthatbambi
    ohthatbambi Posts: 1,098 Member
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    The gym I am currently enrolled in has older equipment so I didn't know if that might be why there is such a big difference. I am changing to new place at the end of the month. It is run by a hospital and the equipment is top of the line stuff so it will be interesting to see how it compares to MFP database.

    Thanks all of you for you input. I guess I will just make the adjustments myself b/c I don't want to eat more than I should based on calories that I may or may not have burned.
  • AtlantaSara
    AtlantaSara Posts: 91
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    I think the machines at the gym are "estimates" - they ask for age and weight (for heart rate consideration) but they do not take into account height or gender. I find them to be about 20-35% off in terms of calorie burn.

    I purchased a watch that has a heart rate monitor, asks for your age, weight, height, gender, and resting heart rate. Yesterday when I was at the gym, I did my "usual" 45 minutes on the eliptical at resistance level 7 and incline of 10. I walk on a treadmill for 10 minutes increasing the incline every 2 minutes from 1 to 8 and then run at 5.5 mph for 15 minutes, walk for 5 minutes at a 5%incline. Total work out burn according to the machines 800 calories. According to my snazzy new watch -- 625. That is a pretty big difference. Especially if you allow yourself to eat those extra calories.

    The watch I bought was pretty reasonable (not so attractive) at 35.00 its by miosport. I actually picked it up at Wal-Mart in their fitness section.

    Good Luck to you. :bigsmile:
  • createsure
    createsure Posts: 55
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    I walk and hike outside almost exclusively for my cardio, and I too have been surprised at how much I supposedly burn. It just doesn't seem quite right... I guess I adjust subconsciously by not eating all the calories I am alloted from the workout. I like to leave a couple hundred at the end if possible, and I guess that is a good thing considering the calorie count may be off by quite a bit.
  • annathelu
    annathelu Posts: 127 Member
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    I understand you can change the exercise machine calories to what they tell you, but I really wish someone on the site could explain how they arrive at the calories for hiking, aerobics, etc.

    Good topic! Then again, the idea to self-adjust by not eating everything allotted makes sense. As my boyfriend CONSTANTLY tells me, "it's just a guide."

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