Exercise Calories seam really high?? and saving them for the

alexfaty
alexfaty Posts: 61
edited September 28 in Health and Weight Loss
OK I know and understand the whole eating exercise calories back thing -
BUT the calories for each exercise that MFP seam so high! and because I can believe that I am burning as many calories that are being allocated its stopping me eat them...

Has anyone got an other 'evidence' that the burnt calories on here are right?or am I just being totally paranoid?
I am 5'3", 150lbs...

for instance 60mins boxercise is burning 500cals!!! I work hard at the class and sweat a lot but I am never breathing hard so is this right?
For running it is giving me over 100 cals per mile on a 10mm basis, I have a Garmin and thats saying a little under I but I don't feel like I have made that much effort!

Also I have got into a habit of eating less in the week and 'saving' my exercise calories for the weekend so I can have a bit more to eat and drink! Is this going to cause starvation mode as I am not eating enough in the week or can I class it as my own version of Zig Zagging! Overall my net calories for the week usually work out at just under 1200 per day over the week..

Replies

  • suzycreamcheese
    suzycreamcheese Posts: 1,766 Member
    i think MFP is probably reasonably accurate when you first start out, but i think if youre used to doing a certain exercise and become reasonably fit and efficient at it, then it can be a bit optimistic
  • purplepollypops
    purplepollypops Posts: 323 Member
    I agree, I think they have overestimated some which is why I got myself an HRM.
  • TinaS88
    TinaS88 Posts: 817 Member
    I don't "make" myself eat those exercise calories back unless I am hungry. As long as you eat the 1200 or close as possible to it, I think you would fine.. I am hopefully getting my scale today (I've been here a little over a week) so I am excited to see if there are any changes yet!!!
  • Wimpey
    Wimpey Posts: 64 Member
    Hi,

    I think you can trust your Garmin. No HRM is 100% accurate all the time as there are many factors involved in how much you truly burn. But it gets very close.
    You can build a picture over time by logging on MFP (ex.: if you have managed the target in calories/exercise but not loss of weight then you can adjust/declare less exercise etc...)
    I find that I burn more in real life than on MFP (I am generally quite active plus have a rather heavy training programme)

    My opinion on saving calories for weekend is: if it works for you it is fine, but would keep clear of excesses. However if you are very active (I can see a race number on your picture) you need to ensure that you balance energy in an out to promote optimal health, energy levels for your training and as you get closer to your target weight avoid stagnating at the same weight.

    Best of luck!
  • SouthernBell86
    SouthernBell86 Posts: 275 Member
    If you have a HRM that is much more reliable, but generally MFP is pretty close to what my HRM monitor says. Sometimes it is under, sometimes it is over. Part of the problem is that some of the exercises on here don't have a way to report intensity. The elliptical for instance is always WAY too high on MFP, but I just don't use the elliptical at a very high intensity yet. Maybe the same problem with your boxing.

    So you say you have a Garmin, that should work pretty well, go with the exercise calories on it.

    Personally I do not believe in rollover calories. I do believe in working extra hard some days and enjoying the extra calories though. I think you should try to eat close to what MFP tells you each day as long as you are seeing results. If you hit a plateau, then you can change things up with zig zagging, but until then try to keep things simple by following MFP closely and not doing the rollover calorie thing. Binging will NOT help you lose weight. So, get a great workout on Saturday and then enjoy a delicious but reasonable meal out. The whole point of MFP is to learn how to enjoy things in moderation and live a normal life.

    Good luck!
  • ju32
    ju32 Posts: 7
    i think its pretty accurate on here as i go to a gym and that tells me the amount of calories ive burnt in my session and its truely unbelieveable sometimes but my instructor has told me its true nothing wrong in what im reading, i dont eat the extra calories that it tells me too as i believe to lose the weight i need to stick at 1200 cals a day even if i burn 1200 or more and in 3 weeks ive burnt away 6lbs so doing something right keep it up .xx
  • elinsofie
    elinsofie Posts: 69 Member
    I also think that the calorie burn estimates here is way too high. According to MFP I'm burning 117 cals on a 30 min moderate paced walk in the park. My EA Sports Active HRM says I'm burning about 120 cals on a 30 min workout. The walk in the park is literally just a walk in the park, but after a workout I really need to take a shower.
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