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Calorie Burn Confusion - Help, Please? :)

SoyD986
SoyD986 Posts: 57 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi MFPeeps!

I'm confused and need some help. Look the 2 pictures below and see where I walked nearly 2.5x the amount and burned almost the exact same # calories ....

This seems off to me intellectually but maybe I'm not getting something? The 8900 step day had 4500 of those steps earned from 40mins on the treadmill - while yesterday was non-stop walking in NY. Intensity difference for sure but I literally walked hours yesterday non-stop.

Any thoughts? I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme but I am trying to walk the equivalent of a marathon over the 2 days to see if i could do the Avon walk and well, I guess I thought 20000+ steps would burn more than 3k cals on a 210lb, 5'5" not very fit chick like me. :)

Thanks, as always!!!

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Replies

  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    There's a 700 calorie difference?
  • SoyD986
    SoyD986 Posts: 57 Member
    I saw that - I thought that 2.5x effort would yield more than .25x return ... I tried working out the math but got lost in that. Anyway, I get your point - just leave it.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    SoyD986 wrote: »
    I saw that - I thought that 2.5x effort would yield more than .25x return ... I tried working out the math but got lost in that. Anyway, I get your point - just leave it.

    You walked 5 miles more, got 700 cals for the effort... sounds about right to me.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Calories for walking can be calculated using bodyweight x 0.3 x distance in miles
  • SoyD986
    SoyD986 Posts: 57 Member
    Awesome! Thanks - ok, so that makes sense ... perfect! This is what happens when you see too many news feed entries with people burning 2000 calories for walking 1hr :)

    Thanks for the help (and formula) - good to have realistic expectations!
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,462 Member
    SoyD986 wrote: »
    Awesome! Thanks - ok, so that makes sense ... perfect! This is what happens when you see too many news feed entries with people burning 2000 calories for walking 1hr :)

    Thanks for the help (and formula) - good to have realistic expectations!

    What you're seeing is their daily adjustment, including one hour of exercise. The "burn" includes daily life - like breathing and talking and showering and eating and moving blood all over your body. It isn't all purposeful exercise. Even your 3300 calories isn't all walking.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    TavistockToad wrote: »
    Calories for walking can be calculated using bodyweight x 0.3 x distance in miles

    This. Also what might have confused the issue is the HR reading influencing things and the flights of stairs climbed.
This discussion has been closed.

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