We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Getting really frustated because...

KateHubb
KateHubb Posts: 366 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I just walked outside for 25 minutes while pushing my 31 lb son in his stroller. My Polar HRM says 263 calories, MFP says 143 calories, and my Omron HJ-112 pedometer says 110 calories... these are big differences. Which is right?! They all have my height and weight inputted.

Replies

  • vinlop
    vinlop Posts: 71 Member
    Your HRM would be the most accurate measurement, but none of them are exact. I would take an average of those numbers and log that.
  • yeabby
    yeabby Posts: 643 Member
    Does your HRM have a chest strap? If it does I'd go with that.
  • omid990
    omid990 Posts: 785 Member
    MFP is going to be the least accurate out of all of those. its hard to say which is right but i would go with the difference between your HRM and your omron or pick the lower number to be safe.
  • NikkisNewStart
    NikkisNewStart Posts: 1,075 Member
    The Polar if it has a chest strap.
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
    Your HRM would be the most accurate as calories burned are more reflective of your heart rate than just your height and weight.
  • KateHubb
    KateHubb Posts: 366 Member
    Does your HRM have a chest strap? If it does I'd go with that.

    Yes, it does. It's a Polar FT4.
  • schobert101
    schobert101 Posts: 218 Member
    The pedometer and MFP don't know that you are pushing a stroller and are only using your distance and time. The HRM shows higher because of the effort of pushing the stroller. I would go with that.
  • StShellie
    StShellie Posts: 12
    This is definitely not a professional take on this, but go with the one you think would be more accurate. What I mean is, did you really push yourself? I could only guess that pushing a 31 pounder around would really be a workout. Were you sweating at all? Were you breathing heavy? Consider these when you decide on the numbers. I know it can be frustrating when we are all counting our numbers!!:tongue: I don't think any of this is ever exactly accurate. And that includes counting the calories we eat.
  • suzooz
    suzooz Posts: 720 Member
    The pedometer and MFP don't know that you are pushing a stroller and are only using your distance and time. The HRM shows higher because of the effort of pushing the stroller. I would go with that.

    That's what I was thinking -- the pedometer can measure steps but it has no idea that you were pushing a stroller. I would go with the HRM.
  • _angua_
    _angua_ Posts: 35
    MFP actually takes away calories for pushing a stroller as opposed to walking without, I guess it thinks you are walking slower.
  • sweetiebelle
    sweetiebelle Posts: 332 Member
    I never use mfp for any of my buned calories. I think they are wrong. I couldn't eat those burned calori. I would probably gain.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories