weight lifting calculation

bgoddess2003
bgoddess2003 Posts: 335 Member
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone, I was adding my lifting to my daily log but it did not calculate any points like it did for cardio. Am I doing something wrong or is MFP just trying not to laugh at me with my little bit of weight.

Replies

  • Th3Ph03n1x
    Th3Ph03n1x Posts: 275 Member
    edited January 2015
    MFP doesn't give you calories for strength training. I've heard/read different reasons for this.

    1. You don't burn many calories strength training (probably accurate as your hear rate doesn't get as high usually.

    2. Your body burns more calories healing your muscles than it does while lifting

    3. There are too many variables (weight speed ect...) for MFP to be able to give an estimate on a strength exercise burn.

    Edit: Typos
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    log it as strength training, and give it 1 calorie.
  • GothyFaery
    GothyFaery Posts: 762 Member
    MFP does not calculate calories for any type of strength training. There is a weight lifting entry in the cardio section but be aware that the calorie burns are total guesses. There are just too many variables to get an accurate estimation of calories burned while lifting weights. Log it as cardio if you want but if your weight loss stalls, this may be the culprit.
  • rickloving
    rickloving Posts: 90 Member
    I have had very good luck using my HRM while lifting and getting a "rough estimate" of calories burnt, but I approached it differently. I set up a routine and basically do a "cardio" weight circuit. I start off warming up on the elliptical for about 10 minutes to get my heart rate up, then I do a full set of weight exercises without any pause between them. Once my set is complete, I jump back on the elliptical for a few minutes to drive my heart rate back up and then start my next set. I generally do 3 to 4 sets at 8-12 reps... I log my calories burnt under cardio and as a circuit workout. I have consistently hit my weight loss goals based on the calorie estimates.

    I do not use the "post" workout burn in my calculations. The common value is somewhere around 40-60 calories of after burn, depending on how hard the workout was and your amount of muscle mass.

    The key is to not let your heart rate drop. (If my heart rate drops below 100BPM in the middle of the set, I jump back on the elliptical for another minute to get my heart rate back up.)

    This is not an exact science, as you cannot completely and accurately track calories during lifting using HRM calculations for calorie burn, but it gets you fairly close and if you monitor it correctly and make adjustments based on your body responses you can track reasonable well.

  • earboots
    earboots Posts: 1
    Great answers really needed that
  • bgoddess2003
    bgoddess2003 Posts: 335 Member
    Ok, thanks for all the help
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