Working out burnt calories ...

avilancaster871
avilancaster871 Posts: 147 Member
edited November 23 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone iv been on here about a week now. When I have been working out I have been letting mfp work out my calories burnt. I have been told by loads that mfp over compensates a lot with calories burnt? Now I normally eat my 1200 cals a day plus half ish of my burnt cals... I burn a min of 400 a day on my cross trainer (elliptical trainer) that's in half hour btw.. Then sometimes I go walking aswell.. Should I carry on working on the mfp calculations? As I said I have only been on here a week so don't no if it's working or not yet lol yes I weigh all my food ect im 5ft1 and 15st9lb with a 6 stone loss as my goal... Thanks guys x

Replies

  • macgurlnet
    macgurlnet Posts: 1,946 Member
    You've got the right idea - if using MFP and/or a machine to estimate calories burned, eat back a portion (say, 50%) and stick with that routine for a minimum of 4 weeks.

    If you're doing a lot of walking, getting a pedometer of some type would be worth doing - you may even be able use your cell phone if you have a smart phone.

    ~Lyssa
  • avilancaster871
    avilancaster871 Posts: 147 Member
    macgurlnet wrote: »
    You've got the right idea - if using MFP and/or a machine to estimate calories burned, eat back a portion (say, 50%) and stick with that routine for a minimum of 4 weeks.

    If you're doing a lot of walking, getting a pedometer of some type would be worth doing - you may even be able use your cell phone if you have a smart phone.

    ~Lyssa

    Ok thanks :) I have the iPhone so it tracks my steps on this app don't no how accurate it is but it does track :) my main concern is that people where saying when I log 30 mins on my cross trainer into mfp it states I burn 400 cals... Now some people have said that's about rite as the more u weigh the more u burn kinda thing but so many people are saying I would barely burn 200? Im worried im going to be over eating! I try only eat back half. Sometimes I do go over that half a little but I never go over completely. Obviously with only being on a week I don't no if im loosing yet lol will weigh next Sunday and find out so should I stick with it for a few weeks and see if I loose before changing how im doing it? X
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    avilancaster871 wrote: »
    I burn a min of 400 a day on my cross trainer (elliptical trainer) that's in half hour btw.. Then sometimes I go walking aswell.. Should I carry on working on the mfp calculations?

    MFP is pretty accurate for walking, but I'd agree that it overestimates elliptihell expenditure. There are too many variables with those for anything to be meaningful
  • avilancaster871
    avilancaster871 Posts: 147 Member
    Am I better just getting rid of my cross trainer and changing it for something else like a tredmill or something? X
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Its a bit drastic to get rid of it especially if you enjoy it. 1200 cals soinds very low so consider whether its sustainable for you and wont lead you to binging out.

    As far as calorie burns are concerned then 50% is a good starting point and if the results arent what you expect then reduce it down to 25%, its just a bit of common sense. Cardio exercise is much more about the person using it in terms of effort and duration rather than the machine, so use the one you enjoy.
  • avilancaster871
    avilancaster871 Posts: 147 Member
    999tigger wrote: »
    Its a bit drastic to get rid of it especially if you enjoy it. 1200 cals soinds very low so consider whether its sustainable for you and wont lead you to binging out.

    As far as calorie burns are concerned then 50% is a good starting point and if the results arent what you expect then reduce it down to 25%, its just a bit of common sense. Cardio exercise is much more about the person using it in terms of effort and duration rather than the machine, so use the one you enjoy.

    Ok thanks :) I am doing ok on the 1200 cals but only when I can eat back half my burnt aswell otherwise I would struggle lol will see how it goes in another few weeks I guess! :)
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    avilancaster871 wrote: »
    Am I better just getting rid of my cross trainer and changing it for something else like a tredmill or something? X

    Perhaps a little excessive. If you enjoy it, then use it. Personally any CV machine bores me to tears, I'd rather go for a run or a cycle. The main thing is to recognise the strengths and weaknesses and compensate accordingly.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    How much are you set to lose at 2lbs a week? Its much better to do a sustainable deficit because it increases your chance of making it to the end. People who try and lose too quickly often binge out, quit or find it much tougher going than they need to. If you dont have enough calories then consider lowering your deficit so you get to eat more, but acccpet it will take a bit longer.
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