How to count this?

meerkat70
meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm confused by the exercise calorie counting thing on here. On weightwatchers anything involving resistance training didn't 'count' so I never had to point it up. Basically, after my cardio at gym (30 minutes on the elliptical, usually) I do 30 minutes on the machines at gym. I tend to do 3 sets of 8-15, depending on the machine. I work with the heaviest weights I can manage, and gradually build up. Is this 'circuit training' or 'strength training'? I've just noticed that the calorie count for the two activities are vastly different.

Since joining this system, I've realised, I think, why I plateaued on weightwatchers. When I'm serious about weight loss, I put in pretty serious exercise, pretty much everyday - often working out more than once, with different kinds of activities. I'd not realised just how much calories this burns - I reckon I was probably burning more than 1000 every single day, But ww only allows you to 'eat' 4 points of this a day. I think I was seriously underfuelled. Ho hum. Realising this has made me a little anxious about making sure I get the calorie counting for exercise 'right' on this system.

Replies

  • MissbusyLizzie
    MissbusyLizzie Posts: 326 Member
    Best way to keep track of your calories burned is to purchase a quality heart rate monitor. :)
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    Best way to keep track of your calories burned is to purchase a quality heart rate monitor. :)

    This means.... one with a chest strap and one that is programmable so you can enter your height/weight/age/gender as well as max HR, vo2 max etc... even better if it tracks your zones.

    I have a Polar FT7 and love it... you'll become addicted to tracking how many calories you burn doing all sorts of things -- like mowing the lawn, dancing at a club all night.... or just walking around the state fair.

    Next weekend I am doing the Susan G Komen 3-Day and I can't wait to see what is says after walking 60 miles! LOL

    EDIT: How come you never see your own typos until after you save changes?
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    Best way to keep track of your calories burned is to purchase a quality heart rate monitor. :)

    Funnily enough, I was just having a quick look online for that very thing.... Is there a straightforward way to calculate calorie burn from the heart rate thing? Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I've simply never really paid that close attention to this aspect of weightlossbefore.
  • 27strange
    27strange Posts: 837 Member
    Best way to keep track of your calories burned is to purchase a quality heart rate monitor. :)

    Funnily enough, I was just having a quick look online for that very thing.... Is there a straightforward way to calculate calorie burn from the heart rate thing? Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I've simply never really paid that close attention to this aspect of weightlossbefore.

    Most heart rate monitors have a calorie counting feature, so they display calories burned on the watch. Getting a Polar FT4 or a FT7 is a good thought if you want to know heart rate and calorie burn for your workouts and if you want to spend $50-$80 for the device.
  • aippolito1
    aippolito1 Posts: 4,894 Member
    I think technically circuit training involves cardio to keep your heart rate up. What you're doing is strength training, and yes, you should get a heart rate monitor to estimate your calories most accurately.
  • Shalimarmandy
    Shalimarmandy Posts: 409 Member
    Funnily enough, I was just having a quick look online for that very thing.... Is there a straightforward way to calculate calorie burn from the heart rate thing? Sorry to sound so ignorant, but I've simply never really paid that close attention to this aspect of weightlossbefore.

    The HRM is the easiest way to track and it does tell you straight out how many calories you have burned but you definately want one with a chest strap!

    Until then it sounds like what you are doing is strangth training... circuit training also involves cardio because you go from one strength exercise to the next with out a pause... I have done both and lifting weight at specific intervals 3 set of 12 or whatever doesn't get and KEEP your heart rate up.



    hope this helps good luck to you!
  • zohars
    zohars Posts: 29
    Actually, using a(n) HRM is not a very accurate way to count calories burned during strength training. This blog post explains it far better than I could:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    From what you've described, you're doing strength training. Circuit training involves a combination of strength and high intensity cardio. So you would do something like 4 or 5 strength moves for upper body then do a bunch of jumping jacks, running in place, squat jumps, etc, then do more strength, rinse repeat. That's why you circuit training will burn more calories than you would just strength training. When you flat out strength train, your heart rate doesn't tend to go up a whole lot and will decrease rapidly when you rest between sets so the calorie burn is much lower. It all depends on how your training though - not as easy to estimate as when you're talking about something specific like running at 5.0mph for 20 minutes...

    And I love that you've discoered that fueling your exercise is the way to go! Good luck!! If you do decide to get an HRM, I also highly recommend the Polar FT4 - all you have to do is set it up with your basic info (age, weight, gender) and it calculates the calories for you. Easy!
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