Best device for working out to estimate calories burned

wutaday1
wutaday1 Posts: 45 Member
edited November 24 in Fitness and Exercise
Wondering if any of you have found a device that best estimates calories burned while working out? While I do not plan on eating most of my exercise calories back, I really would like an accurate estimate of what I am burning. I don't feel my fitbit does a good job of this. Thanks in advance! :smile: I am starting the Jillian Michaels body shred program as soon as I get over my upper respiratory infection and want to be able to more accurately enter my exercise calories. :smiley:

Replies

  • Azercord
    Azercord Posts: 573 Member
    A heart rate monitor of some sort is the best way (be it Fitbit, Garmin, chest strap) since it will measure your heart rate during the activity and give a better estimate of your energy output at the time. A wearable one like a watch has the added benefit of being able to pull your average over a longer period of time helping smooth out inherent mistakes/flaws.

    If you really don't want to do a heart rate monitor I would just put it in as cardio or not at all and just eat at BMR.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    wutaday1 wrote: »
    I am starting the Jillian Michaels body shred program

    There's nothing on the market that'll give you a consistent and reliable measure for that kind of activity.

    Just base it on time and log as circuit training.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Azercord wrote: »
    A heart rate monitor of some sort is the best way (be it Fitbit, Garmin, chest strap) .

    Except HR has little association with calorie expenditure in a circuit training context.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    wutaday1 wrote: »
    Wondering if any of you have found a device that best estimates calories burned while working out? While I do not plan on eating most of my exercise calories back, I really would like an accurate estimate of what I am burning. I don't feel my fitbit does a good job of this. Thanks in advance! :smile: I am starting the Jillian Michaels body shred program as soon as I get over my upper respiratory infection and want to be able to more accurately enter my exercise calories. :smiley:

    The vast majority of JM workouts are circuit training. A combination of cardio & strength training. So as far as devices to accurately estimate calorie burns you're out of luck.

    Power meters are great for cycling. Heart rate monitors are generally decent for steady state cardio. But your workout isn't either of those things.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,075 Member
    It may not be precise, but I'm finding my Polar H10 chest HRM with the app (where you choose the type of exercise, not just HR) to be as accurate as I need (in other words, I'm accomplishing my goals and not gaining weight).
  • wutaday1
    wutaday1 Posts: 45 Member
    Thanks everyone. I guess I will just log it as circuit training.
  • mark_mfp
    mark_mfp Posts: 12 Member
    HoneyBadger155 wrote: »
    It may not be precise, but I'm finding my Polar H10 chest HRM with the app (where you choose the type of exercise, not just HR) to be as accurate as I need (in other words, I'm accomplishing my goals and not gaining weight).

    Hi. I just got my H10 and love the polar flow app. Did a 4.2 mile walk today and it estimated 1265 calories and MFP estimated about 700. I used the activity app on my AppleWatch as well as Polarflow (just to compare the two). I deleted the 700 workout from MFP, as it seems to be adding same thing twice.

    I'm planning to wear the H10 24/7 (as I want better sleep tracking too) for the next few months.

    What settings do you use?

    I'm puzzled by the exercise tab in MFP. If I look at MFP ios Calorie adjustment, I see

    MFP iOS Calories Burned
    Full Day Projection 5588

    MyFitnessPal Calories Burned
    (Includes 1265 calories from exercise) 5535

    MFP iOS Calorie Adjustment 0
    Your adjustment has been reduced to keep your goal above our 3300 calorie minimum *
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    mark_mfp wrote: »
    Did a 4.2 mile walk today and it estimated 1265 calories

    On the basis that walking calories per mile are 0.3* bodyweight in lbs, that would suggest that you weigh 960lbs, which I'd suspect is unlikely.

    In low range activity HR doesn't have a strong correlation with calorie expenditure, so it's not really an appropriate tool for that type of scenario.
    I'm planning to wear the H10 24/7 (as I want better sleep tracking too) for the next few months.

    If you'd wanted 24/7 tracking why didn't you get a device that was designed for that?

    I'm also curious as to the value you anticipate from HR tracking while you're asleep? Resting Heart Rate has some value as a long term metric as it can indicate changes in fitness, but there are better this out there.
  • Siobhan256
    Siobhan256 Posts: 27 Member
    I use a heart rate strap (wahoo brand) and train at F45 where we do a mix of cardio & resistance. I love the information it provides about calorie burn. On days where it’s mostly strength training and not cardio, I’d have to say it appears I’ve done very little but I’m still ok with the information. I don’t eat all the calories back.
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