Help - MyFitnessPal not adding calories for strength trainin

Roadchickie
Roadchickie Posts: 12 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm new to this website and really like it. However, I hit the gym today and put in 50 minutes of exercise which included upper body weights (bench press, biceps, lateral raises, pull downs, etc.) combined with step ups on a high bench. I was sweating, my heart rate elevated and I worked hard (upper body is fatigued now). Yet, when I enter the strength training exercises in my exercise diary, this website does not count any calories or time for my effort. All I got was a 172 calorie deficit for the step ups for 10 minutes. That can't be right. The calories I'm not so concerned about, but the time, I am! I want my 50 minutes of exercise recorded.

Can anyone help me with this?

Thank you!
M.E.

Replies

  • Just_Dot
    Just_Dot Posts: 2,283 Member
    You could get a heart rate monitor...that's what I do.
  • Roadchickie
    Roadchickie Posts: 12 Member
    Oh, good point. In fact, my friend asked me if I had one of those yesterday. I do, but I don't know where it is.

    Thank you for your reply! :-)
  • goal30Lori
    goal30Lori Posts: 307 Member
    You can add 'strength training' in your cardio record too, but I agree, a HRM is the most accurate way to go!
  • jaitken_22
    jaitken_22 Posts: 212 Member
    I have a HRM which tells me what I've burned doing strength exercises.. what I do is log it under Strength obviously without the calories, but I note it all under exercise notes what cals I've burned for each one and if I want the calories burned to be included in my loss then I just stick it under cardio as "strength training"
  • ltf304
    ltf304 Posts: 132 Member
    I agree with everyone. Get a HRM with a chest strap and you will be good to go. I just enter my own exercise and put in the calories that my HRM said I burned. I recommend Polar or Garmin HRM's. Both get great reviews on Amazon and anywhere you search on the internet.
  • Roadchickie
    Roadchickie Posts: 12 Member
    Okay...don't need more convincing than that. If I can't find my old polar, I'll go buy one today. I strength train at least twice a week, so it would be helpful to have.

    Again, thank you all. :-)
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    If you enter your weight workout under the cardio section, it does give you credit for your calorie burn. Just search for "weights" or "weight lifting"The weights section is designed more for keeping track of reps, tc. Since weight lifting does vary so much from person to person, in terms of calorie burn, a heart rate monitor will tell you more accurately what you have burned, but I just wanted you to know that MFP does give you a way to get those exercise calories. You earned 'em!!!
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