My Fitness Pal OVER-estimating calories burned?

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  • Whittedo
    Whittedo Posts: 352 Member
    JennieMaeK wrote: »
    I don't have a heart rate monitor, yet, but I find the treadmill at my gym is way over what MFP says. I generally don't eat back my calories, so I'm not concerned about what it says. I've ordered a heart rate monitor so I'll see once I get that.

    I started using a Polar M400 Sport Watch coupled with an H6 HRM strap and have found that for me MFP was underestimating my calorie burn. No wonder I was losing so much weight because I was also following the 1/2 back guideline. Interestingly sometimes the HRM is over what the elliptical states and other days it is under.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Some MFP estimates will be high, some will be low, some will be pretty close.
    Walking and running should be pretty reasonable - cross check against some of the online calculators.

    Some machines will be high, some will be low and some can be the most accurate you can get if they measure power.

    HRMs can be fairly accurate if used for the correct exercise but will give random results if used for interval training or resistance training. But subject to outside influences (heat, dehydration - and a new one for me, blood donation!).

    Use a bit of common sense and it really isn't that difficult to get a feel for what is and isn't reasonably accurate.

  • mynameisoliverqueen
    mynameisoliverqueen Posts: 63 Member
    Not just MFP that over estimates! I have seen some exercise cycles claim over 1000 calories burnt for an hour use! My elliptical trainer only shows 220 calories at 110 pulse for half hour at 25KPH! I would always urge on the lower figure & eat less to be certain!
  • jenmd2015
    jenmd2015 Posts: 4
    Did you order a fit bit with or without heart rate monitor, if you have one with a monitor it will show your calories more accurately.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    It's pretty close for me. By the time I consider that I weight trained and didn't log it, I've always lost weight eating back the calories.
  • notfromarizona
    notfromarizona Posts: 53 Member
    I put in a weight about 25 to 30 lbs less than me at the machines at the gym and use the amount it tells me I burn then.
  • steffenson
    steffenson Posts: 312 Member
    I log my exercise (so I have a record of it) but change the calories to '1' and use the TDEE method for calculating how much I should be eating.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    jenmd2015 wrote: »
    Did you order a fit bit with or without heart rate monitor, if you have one with a monitor it will show your calories more accurately.

    I really want to meet the HRM marketing guy and kick him repeatedly. A device with a HRM embedded does not equate to more accurate caloric burn.
  • Sophiasmomma
    Sophiasmomma Posts: 155 Member
    JessieLMay wrote: »
    I think some things are over like the cleaning, however, I have noticed that what mfp has is consistant with what I get from heart rate.

    same for me. Sometimes its only off by a few calories!!

  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    Sophiasmomma wrote: »
    JessieLMay wrote: »
    I think some things are over like the cleaning, however, I have noticed that what mfp has is consistant with what I get from heart rate.

    same for me. Sometimes its only off by a few calories!!

    And that tells you.....what?
  • Chadillac8884
    Chadillac8884 Posts: 24 Member
    I always change the number MFP suggests, and underestimate it just to be safe.
  • Ohhim
    Ohhim Posts: 1,142 Member
    Calorie estimate for cycling seems a bit high. I usually just go by 40/mile for that at my size/weight (175lb, 5'10").
  • arkowalyshyn
    arkowalyshyn Posts: 132 Member
    I am 30 years old, 150lbs, regularly active. The burns seem to be close for me, but I think the 'formula' to calculate caloric output is based on someone with similar stats. I don't usually eat back many of my earned calories specifically, just use it as a cushion for error in logging. (Or to "cover" the occasional taste while cooking/preparing food)
  • KnotAHarley
    KnotAHarley Posts: 2 Member
    I lost 56 # in 24 week Following MyFitness There calories were lower than my HRM So it was a plus to follow there's
  • thefuzz1290
    thefuzz1290 Posts: 777 Member
    My Garmin syncs to MFP and is probably as close to being as accurate as one can get without spending a TON of money. But you have to be wary of which HRM you purchase, not all of them are equal. Wrist HRM aren't as accurate as chest straps, but its close. Also, don't log stuff like cleaning or doing laundry, that just makes you feel better if you have a cheat meal..."Well I did clean the house and do laundry, which is 500 calories burned, so I can have this piece of cake!"
  • robininfl
    robininfl Posts: 1,137 Member
    I put the exercise into mapmyrun (sister app to MFP). I think it's good at estimating for running, I do eat back all that, because it tracks me so it knows I am slow.

    But yoga? I have to put the classes in as shorter than they are to get the burn estimate down - I told it this morning I was doing a vigorous hour long yoga class (it's 1 hour 15 min power vinyasa but we rest at the end) and it gave me nearly 800 kcal? I weigh 136lb, I am not burning 800 calories in a yoga class no matter how many pushups we do. So I put in classes as 45min or 50min but never 1.25 hours


    I will say, though, as a note, that throughout my life the difference in my size has been due much, much more to exercise than eating, personally. Excluding the early years when I was eating disordered, that was eating restriction but was not healthy. My body seems to respond a lot to movement, and be somewhat resistant to diet in either direction. Like if I am working out a lot it's hard for me to gain any weight, but if I am not working out at all (injury) I can't seem to restrict calories low enough to lose even a pound, and weight will creep upward.

  • ROBOTFOOD
    ROBOTFOOD Posts: 5,527 Member
    I found them to overestimate by 40%. For me.
  • ObsidianMist
    ObsidianMist Posts: 519 Member
    I correct this by only logging 50% of my exercise minutes. easy peasy.
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