Calories Burned-Machine vs Calculator

Twinmom1221
Twinmom1221 Posts: 191 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm wondering if it is better to use the calories burned that is displayed on my tredmill (does not take wight into consideration) or to use a calculator where you enter your weight, exercise, and time.

I feel like I'm burning more calories than the machine gives me credit for, but that could be wishful thinking. I could go with the treadmill and know that I have extra calories, but I would like to have an idea of how many calories I burn.

Replies

  • tonismith15
    tonismith15 Posts: 11 Member
    that's an interesting question. sometimes my treadmill says less than what the exercise calculator on here says. I didn't know it had to do with weight and stuff. I'd go off of what this website says in that case.
  • Fochizzy
    Fochizzy Posts: 505 Member
    I used to use the lowest of the 2 numbers but my treadmill took age and weight into account. I would think the calculators would be more accurate in this case. I bought a HRM, and I think it was an awesome choice and I recommend it!
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Honestly, the best option is an HRM. Online calculators and Machines can be off by a lot... esp if they don't take all of your data into account, heart rate etc.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    I agree - use the lowest of the 2 numbers. Many treadmills have the default gender set to male. Men typically burn more calories than women. I never trust my treadmill.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    In my experience, most cardio machines and the MFP calculators overestimate, even taking age and weight into account. This is according to the Polar FT4 heart rate monitor that I use during my workouts. If you're eating back all of your exercise calories, this could mean that you're eating too much and you may have a harder time losing weight. If you're only eating back say half to 2/3rds, then you'll probably do just fine.

    The only cardio machine I've ever used that underestimates are the stationary bkes in our gym...no idea why they read such a low burn.

    ETA: I never knew machines defaulted to male gender - that's interesting!
  • lplautz
    lplautz Posts: 19
    If you are really serious about your exercising and counting calories, I would invest in a heart rate monitor. I bought a Polar brand one, which went for about $70. I like knowing it is accurate and taking all of my information in to detail. In answer to your question though, the monitor told me I was burning approx 150 calories more than the elliptical machine said I was.
  • mosneakers
    mosneakers Posts: 343 Member
    A heart rate monitor would be a great investment. The way I see it, the thing is attached to you and you have to enter the other important info to - it has to be the most accurate.

    If you don't want to get a HRM, I agree that you should use the lowest of the 2 numbers. I overestimate my calories in and underestimate my calories out.
  • HarlCarl
    HarlCarl Posts: 266 Member
    Personally, I think the machines are displaying what a 125 pound, 25 year old male would burn. That's definately not matching what I burn. :ohwell:
  • AliDarling
    AliDarling Posts: 373
    i trust the machine. if its one you can enter weight, age in, then i trust it. on the eliptical yesterday, i did level 11 and burned 1100 in 65 minutes. when i went to add them on the app, for 65 minutes it shows 807. i trust the machine everytime. but with walking, and stuff,i'd go with mfp
  • juliapurpletoes
    juliapurpletoes Posts: 951 Member
    Trust NOTHING unless it takes your heart rate as well asyour age, gender, weight, as well as other personal info. This database is farly general but at least it takes your info from your account. The downfall is that it cannot know your heart rate/intensity level as you were doing the activity.

    In my experience, the machines that I use don't take any info and have use a very generic algorythm that for me report over double of what my heart rate monitor says. They need to know your gender as well as age and weight. And, even that isn't really enough unless they can take a continuos heart rate.

    And, finally theres the heart rate monitor......probably your best bet, because it takes YOUR personal info and applies it to the algorythm that calculates calories burned. May not be 100% correct but definitely more accurate.

    Best of Luck :smile:
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