My Fitness Pal and strength training

prsdragon · March 2015

I am a new user of MFP and have been tracking my diet with it. I work out 4 times a week at Gold's Gym and one of those is with a trainer. My question what is the best way to track the days that I do my weight training and apply that to my calorie intake. I do keep a journal of all of my weight training.
Thanks
Bob C

DustinSmith84 · March 2015

Wish I knew an answer for this also.

CA_Underdog · March 2015

Under cardio, use the "Strength Training" entry, and fill-in the time you spend training. This makes sense, assuming you take 1-2 minute rests between sets. If you're taking shorter breaks, e.g. 30 seconds or less leaving you struggling for breath, I'd use the "Circuit Training" entry. If you're taking longer breaks, e.g. 5+ minutes, simply subtract those breaks from your exercise time.

Mrsallen6_11 · March 2015

http://myfitnesspal.desk.com/customer/portal/articles/11170-why-don-t-you-calculate-calories-burned-for-strength-training-

wizzybeth · March 2015

Just be wary of the burn MFP gives you - it may overestimate!

CA_Underdog · March 2015

wizzybeth wrote: »

Just be wary of the burn MFP gives you - it may overestimate!

The Strength Training entry is fortunately one of the better ones--fairly conservative! I'd use Circuit Training with more care since its calorie estimate is on-par with running.

wizzybeth · March 2015

So would you say I'm being too restrictive by cutting it in half?

CA_Underdog · March 2015

wizzybeth wrote: »

So would you say I'm being too restrictive by cutting it in half?

Good question.

According to Harvard Medical School, the average 155# person burns 112kcal per 30 min of weight lifting. According to MyFitnessPal, a 155# person burn 105kcal per 30 min of weight lifting. So yes, I think that makes the MyFitnessPal strength training numbers reasonably safe as-is!

http://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/calories-burned-in-30-minutes-of-leisure-and-routine-activities

The circuit training numbers are also reasonable! I think the biggest danger is misclassifying your activity as one when it's really the other.

My Fitness Pal and strength training

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