Logging Exercise Calories - Treadmill

machjas
machjas Posts: 26 Member
edited November 30 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey, all!

I've been walking 4 miles per day for the last week or so. I'm using a treadmill, setting it at 2.0mph with no incline at this point. I noticed that there is a difference between what MFP says I've burned for calories and what the treadmill says I've burned.

I've just been going by what MFP search tells me a 2mph walk would burn, which for 4 miles @ 2mph is 880 calories . The treadmill itself also has a calorie counter, and it's usually lower by 200-300 calories after the full 4 miles. I have a (wrist-worn Withings Pulse O2) fitness tracker that doesn't seem to register my steps on the treadmill at all, otherwise I'd just go by that.

I generally don't eat back exercise calories anyway, I just want to be accurate. What do you guys think, how should I be logging this? Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • BruinsGal_91
    BruinsGal_91 Posts: 1,400 Member
    That seems high. My Fitbit gives me approx 600 calories for a five mile treadmill run at a pace of 5.2mph. (The treadmill gives me approx 750 calories.)
  • msujack
    msujack Posts: 84 Member
    Calories burned is an estimation of your weight, speed, and time. Someone larger will use more calories to move their body slower than someone lighter moving at a faster pace. With that said, its all a guess. If you are a data geek, maybe average the two numbers together. It doesn't really matter if you aren't eating all of the calories back (as stated above, they usually over-estimate the cal burn). I weigh just over 220 and burn more per hour at a slower pace than my friend who runs 6-10 miles daily. He is lighter by 20lbs. Anyhow, just log it consistently the same and you will get a good benchmark for your improvement. I personally tend to use the numbers on my fitbit as it doesn't matter if I am walking outside, on a work gym treadmill, or at the fitness club. The consistency is the key.
  • engodwin
    engodwin Posts: 516 Member
    Try this formula...

    u3oubxztctdx.png

  • machjas
    machjas Posts: 26 Member
    engodwin wrote: »
    Try this formula...

    u3oubxztctdx.png

    Going by this formula, the result in MFP search is pretty close to what I get from this formula. I was wondering if maybe MFP took my weight into consideration when logging this stuff - this suggests that it probably does, and it explains why it would be different for other people as well. Thank you!
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