Should i trust the elliptical machine ?

nicole716
nicole716 Posts: 43 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I went to the gym and did 45 minutes on the Elliptical Machine. the incline was 10, and the "intensity level" was 8. the elliptical machine told me that i burned 525 calories in 45 minutes. However, when i tried to log it on MFP, it said that if i did the elliptical machine for 45 minutes, that i burned 351 calories.

Should i trust my elliptical machine or go with what MFP says? MFP doesn't have a selection of "intesity levels" like the elliptical machines do, and i did it on intesity level 8, which is pretty hard for me...so i'm not sure how i should log my exercise. any suggestions ? thanks :)

Replies

  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    The machine approxmates your calories based on the intensity level...
    MFP appromates your calories based on the activity/weight - but not the intensity level...

    I would say it would be somewhere inbetween...

    A heart rate moniter would give you a more exact number.
  • someday_soon
    someday_soon Posts: 37
    HONESTLY I would recommend getting a Heart-Rate Monitor. I just got mine and I LOVE it. I was underestimating the calorie burn for classes I took at the gym (Turbo Kick, Kettle, Spinning) but overestimating the treadmill and elliptical - even when I plugged my weight and age into the elliptical, it overestimated my calories by around 100 for the hour. :)
  • Picola1984
    Picola1984 Posts: 1,133
    Like I just posted in another topic, do not trust them

    Machine- 1000 calories

    HRM- 670
  • swaymyway
    swaymyway Posts: 428 Member
    Neither will be accurate, so I'd just go for something in the middle.

    As others have suggested, a HRM is really the only way to get an accurate reading.
  • nicole716
    nicole716 Posts: 43 Member
    I'm going to get a HRM, but where do i purchase one ? it seems like a great idea for me, since i'm always wondering if my exercise calories are accurate
  • swaymyway
    swaymyway Posts: 428 Member
    My tip would be ebay as you can often get a bargain on there, people buy them with good intentions but then end up not working out so they sell them on.

    Or you can get them in any large American store (I'm not from America myself so forgive me if I get any names wrong) like Walmart or Best Buy etc.
  • ashleynicole8912
    ashleynicole8912 Posts: 15
    I'm going to get a HRM, but where do i purchase one ? it seems like a great idea for me, since i'm always wondering if my exercise calories are accurate

    You can go to the store, I saw one at meijer in the fitness section yesterday when I was there. Or you can order one off ebay and get a really good deal. Thats what I did.
  • esy1024
    esy1024 Posts: 28 Member
    You can add your own exercise to the database. So if you burn so much at that intensity level, just add it there, and the calories you burn, and then it will calculate the calories burned for you if you do more or less.
  • adalton6
    adalton6 Posts: 204 Member
    I went to the gym and did 45 minutes on the Elliptical Machine. the incline was 10, and the "intensity level" was 8. the elliptical machine told me that i burned 525 calories in 45 minutes. However, when i tried to log it on MFP, it said that if i did the elliptical machine for 45 minutes, that i burned 351 calories.

    Should i trust my elliptical machine or go with what MFP says? MFP doesn't have a selection of "intesity levels" like the elliptical machines do, and i did it on intesity level 8, which is pretty hard for me...so i'm not sure how i should log my exercise. any suggestions ? thanks :)

    The eliptical at my gym has you enter in your weight when you first start. It measures your heart rate while your on and the resistance you are using. I found that there is also a big difference between what it says and what MFP says. When I do 40 minutes it says I burn almost 700 calories but the eliptical says about 450- 500 depending on the resistance level I use. If you have a trainer I would explain to them your delimna and see what they say. Good luck!
  • adalton6
    adalton6 Posts: 204 Member
    HONESTLY I would recommend getting a Heart-Rate Monitor. I just got mine and I LOVE it. I was underestimating the calorie burn for classes I took at the gym (Turbo Kick, Kettle, Spinning) but overestimating the treadmill and elliptical - even when I plugged my weight and age into the elliptical, it overestimated my calories by around 100 for the hour. :)
    I have no clue on how a heart-rate monitor works, does it give you your calories? Sorry I am so clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff!
  • breskittle
    breskittle Posts: 75 Member
    I got a MIO petite HRM , its small for my girly wrist and it is awesome.
    I got it at BestBuy for 59.99 on sale. I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere tho.
  • someday_soon
    someday_soon Posts: 37
    I got a red women's Polar FT7 from amazon.com it was the cheapest place to buy it (besides ebay.. didn't check there) and it works perfectly! and you can change the battery yourself, unlike some others where you have to send them in :)
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    I'm going to get a HRM, but where do i purchase one ? it seems like a great idea for me, since i'm always wondering if my exercise calories are accurate

    ****s Sporting Goods, REI, any sports store... Do a little research. I am saving up for one! :)
  • k8edge
    k8edge Posts: 380
    I'm going to get a HRM, but where do i purchase one ? it seems like a great idea for me, since i'm always wondering if my exercise calories are accurate

    ****s Sporting Goods, REI, any sports store... Do a little research. I am saving up for one! :)

    Brahaha... It *** out D*c*s Sporting goods... lmao.
  • arc918
    arc918 Posts: 2,037 Member
    both are wrong, elliptical is usually more wrong...
  • Jdismybug1
    Jdismybug1 Posts: 443 Member
    Theres usually a gap between what the machine says and mfp says to me, i just go with a in between number if that happens. A heart rate monitor does sound like a good idea tho
  • sculptandtone
    sculptandtone Posts: 300 Member
    There's a new wrist HRM for sale at CVS, apparnetly quite reasonably priced and getting rave reviews. I live overseas, but will pick one up when I go to the USA in July. The machine are absolute crap. MFP seems way too high to me as well.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories