Weight Lifting

LeanerBeef
LeanerBeef Posts: 1,432 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Why does weight lifting not show up with calories burned??? I was working hard today! :devil:

Replies

  • Mads1997
    Mads1997 Posts: 1,494 Member
    Put it under cardio. Strength training weight lifting.
  • jbug100
    jbug100 Posts: 406 Member
    There is a strength training option under cardio menu, but it underestimates my work out. Best to buy a HRM if you want an accurate reading. I've heard that sometimes those aren't too accurate at lower heart rates, but I try to keep my Hr in a cardio zone while I strength train. Good luck.
  • Angela4Health
    Angela4Health Posts: 1,319 Member
    Even an HRM cannot accurately count calories burned. Just because your heart rate is high doesn't mean you're burning the same amount of calories as when you are doing an aerobic activity.

    The reason the HRM is not valid for weight training is that the physiology underlying the heart rate increase when lifting weights is different than with cardio, so the increase in HR that occurs when lifting weights does not reflect the same increase in VO2 (oxygen uptake, the basis for calorie estimations) as cardio exercise. HRM are calibrated to the the HR response to cardio exercise, not weight training.

    Even when there is an increase in VO2 with strength training (e.g. lighter weights, some types of circuit training) the increase is less that what you would see at a similar HR during cardio exercise, often 30%-40% less.

    Bottom line, HRM calorie readings cannot be used to *kitten* caloric expenditure during weight training. Any "trainer" that says differently does not understand basic exercise physiology.

    also, Read this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698
  • LeanerBeef
    LeanerBeef Posts: 1,432 Member
    Thanks for the feedback. I understand there's no exact way to calculate the calories burned during weight lifting but thought there might be a way to estimate. However, what you say Angela makes good sense. I guess everyone is different and intensity level would vary for each person. I'll just chalk it up as a good workout.
  • Angela4Health
    Angela4Health Posts: 1,319 Member
    If you're doing intense weight lifting, go ahead and log it under cardio as strength training. MFP estimates strength training calories burned super low to be on the safe side so you might as well give yourself credit for those calories.
  • torregro
    torregro Posts: 307
    Bottom line, HRM calorie readings cannot be used to *kitten* caloric expenditure during weight training. Any "trainer" that says differently does not understand basic exercise physiology.

    also, Read this:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698

    Really great article on the topic. Thanks for sharing.
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