Why such a big difference in calories burned?

Honestly I think a lot of what others are logging are exaggerated somehow...

They may be logging based on an HRM or machine at the gym, which could give different numbers. My HRM, for example, is so different from MFP's estimate that I almost don't even believe it at all, lol.

lindsey--- i think it is much better to under-estimate your calorie burn than over-estimate... dont worry about what other people are burning (even though i know how you feel!) because in the end this journey is about you and your weight loss.
hope this helps!!
jennie

Why don't you just log it in through my fitness pal and take the calories burned from what they give.. You walk 2 miles at a brisk pace and burn 359 calories. I am just curious. That is accurate enough, I would think

I wish I had a heart rate monitor so I knew exactly what I was burning...I usually underestimate on calories burned just in case. Unfortunately, I have no idea how some people get such huge calorie burns...

Right! That is exactly correct!

WOW, so happy for your loss and I love your positive attitude, gimme some of that. KIM

I have a HRM and at first I could not believe it. The more I use it however the more I am understanding that every body is different. My husband can do the exact same work out but because he is so much more in shape it takes much more longer and more intense workout for him to get the same calories burn . We can walk the dog for an hour and I am huffing and puffing and burn 600 and he is fine andd it is a slow pace for him and he burns like 200. I think it is all in your body and what you carrier around. I have 100 pounds over extra weight so it doesn't take me long to get my heart rate up. I hope that helps. I would recommend you looking into a HRM. It is nice to know what you are personally doing. It makes me want to workout harder and longer seeing my number!

Calories is not a scoreboard.

MFP is a tool. But like any tool you have to use it properly. If you're honest with yourself, you will be successful and it shouldn't matter what other people burn. What people burn is as unique as the individual.

One of my friends asked me about this just yesterday after I posted my run-what was I doing to burn so much. I use an HRM when I run, and the numbers I get from my HRM are reasonably higher than what MFPestimates for my running. The best I can figure is that I'm keeping my heart rate higher than whatever the rate is that MFP uses in their calculations-I'd actually be curious to know what their number is. When I've tested it on a workout DVD I usually find the numbers are considerably lower so I've tried to adjust those nubmers down. Like someone already said, everyone is going to be different and probably with every activity too.

I don't how big some of your friends are, but a person who is 250 pounds can burn 495 calories an hour walking at a pace of 3 MPH for an hour. Size definitely will increase what you burn.
And honestly, I don't understand why people would lie about their activity level. People are here to lose weight and get support-not to see who can post the highest numbers.

When I was 250lb, it was nothing for me to burn 700 - 800 calories in a 45 minute workout. I worked really hard and believed it when the machines told me I burned those big numbers.

Now at 147lbs, I can bust my butt for an hour on the treadmill doing my run/powerwalk intervals and I burn 500 - 600. I know it is because I am smaller now and I don't expect the big numbers that I use to get.

I also believe that some people exagerate when they log their exercise. I don't let it bug me too much because they aren't hurting me, they are only kidding themselves.

Just because someone is burning a lot of calories doesn't mean that they are lying or overestimating. A lot of what you burn depends on your size. If someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose did their workout while carrying 50, 75, 100 lbs they would burn a lot more calories. As you lose weight the number of calories you burn goes down and you have to work a lot harder to burn calories. It's just the way it is. Also a lot of people don't have heart rate monitors and just go off of the estimates here which are IMO high for some things and low for other things.

Why does it have to come down to saying people are not telling the truth? Are we not all here for the same thing? I am here to get support not to see people downing other people for what they are logging. You also need to remember that some of these people are logging more than one activity and all that shows up is the one you did the longest. If I swim, walk, clean and ride my bike all in the same day I will definately burn 1000 calories but it will show only one activity.

So instead of knocking people for what they are logging take a moment and get to know them, you never know if you might get a friend out of the conversation you have with them.

The best way to succeed is the support you have in the side lines.

I don't think we are accusing people of lying. We are confused as to why we're doing more activity and our numbers are lower. It isn't a matter of saying "Well, so and so is lying about that!". I'm just trying to understand why I jog for a long stretch and don't burn what someone else is burning at my warm up speed. That's all.

Why does it have to come down to saying people are not telling the truth? Are we not all here for the same thing? I am here to get support not to see people downing other people for what they are logging. You also need to remember that some of these people are logging more than one activity and all that shows up is the one you did the longest. If I swim, walk, clean and ride my bike all in the same day I will definately burn 1000 calories but it will show only one activity.

So instead of knocking people for what they are logging take a moment and get to know them, you never know if you might get a friend out of the conversation you have with them.

The best way to succeed is the support you have in the side lines.

I don't think we are accusing people of lying. We are confused as to why we're doing more activity and our numbers are lower. It isn't a matter of saying "Well, so and so is lying about that!". I'm just trying to understand why I jog for a long stretch and don't burn what someone else is burning at my warm up speed. That's all.

I don't think the OP was accusing people of lying. But a good deal of the responses were littered with the words:
-lying, over estimating, kidding yourself, cheating, claims, deluding themselves....-
I just don't get why people think in such a negative way about other people and their journeys. (Me thinks thou dost protest too much?)
I use the MFP database as a gross ballpark figure for a very rough estimate of my exercise calories. I also track my calories to the best of my ability. Do I think I burned 1200 calories during my 60 minutes of circuit training? Heck no! It's just a number put out there for me to log. That is also why I don't eat back a lot or most of my exercise calories. I'm not a fool. But I do know my body, and how long I work it, and how hard I push it. I am much more apt to listen to my body, pay attention to my macro's and nutrition levels, and fuel myself from there. I work out until I feel that my body has had enough. I have light workout days and heavy workout days. I don't expect a website to put forth an 'absolute' number that is 100% correct- nor would I totally rely on a HRM to be perfect either.
I guess I'm old school when it comes to that. I don't feel that the latest gaget or gizmo is going to whiz bang me into thin city any faster or more accurately than I can do it myself. My body, my brain, and I have known each other intimately all my life. I know what works for me, and armed with a scale and some iron we are coming along nicely.
In regard to the lying, cheating, and deluding comments, please. Worry about yourself. That is why my diary is closed to all but the few friends I allow to see it. And that's because to me, they seem smarter than the average bear and can fiqure things out accordingly or ask a question without thinking I'm lying or other haughty things.
I log my food from midnight to midnight. I log my exercise from the time I get up til the time I go to bed. My diary looks crazy. But it works for me.