Acuracy on the app for calories

chochies1
chochies1 Posts: 6 Member
in Getting Started
How accurate is the calories burned on the my fitness pal app? I have my doubts but would like some insight on my curiosity of this issue

Replies

  • lalalacroix
    lalalacroix Posts: 834 Member
    Personally I find the calorie burn to be higher than they should be. Many people say that the totals are accurate for them. I eat back about 50-75% of the exercise calories
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,811 Member
    edited January 2019
    It's a database of hundreds of different entries - accuracy to a large degree depends on your personal selection of a relatively small number of exercises from that database.

    It's not inaccurate by a certain percentage for every single exercise - that could be easily fixed if it were. Often the database may not be the best option for some exercises, there can be far better ways for some exercises.

    I always ate back all my exercise calories to lose at the expected rate and also to long term maintain my weight, but the majority of my estimates don't come from the database here.

    If you want advice for your particular set of exercises then update the thread with what you actually do to get some suggestions.
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,483 Member
    edited January 2019
    Except for Zumba, I’ve found them spot on.
    My exercises are quite simple though and I think that helps.
    Aqua fit, Pilates, yoga, strength training, walking, swimming, and probably a couple more.

    You can always start at 75% and move the percentage up or down depending on results.

    Cheers, h.
    Been here a long time so I’m confident in my numbers for losing maintaining or gaining.
  • nk9o
    nk9o Posts: 60 Member
    wish more food referenced ounces for an estimate where applicable. Some refer to one serving or plate which is useless.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,013 Member
    nk9o wrote: »
    wish more food referenced ounces for an estimate where applicable. Some refer to one serving or plate which is useless.

    The food database is almost entirely user entered and maintained, except for USDA entries MFP uploaded once. So there are lots of bum entries. You can fix public entries, or you can create your own entries and save them for your own use. Also always check the serving drop down box, as some entries have several to choose from like 1 gram, 100g, 1 cup, etc.
  • mmrick58
    mmrick58 Posts: 1 Member
    I am new to this app and entering my own recipes as I make most of my meals from scratch. That said, some of the caloric counts from the app seem really off...2 T of shredded raw carrot had more than 300 calories according to the app, for one example. That cannot be right. Not sure how to work around this. Any suggestions?
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    mmrick58 wrote: »
    I am new to this app and entering my own recipes as I make most of my meals from scratch. That said, some of the caloric counts from the app seem really off...2 T of shredded raw carrot had more than 300 calories according to the app, for one example. That cannot be right. Not sure how to work around this. Any suggestions?

    pick a different carrot entry in the database. there's more than one.
  • Jackie9003
    Jackie9003 Posts: 1,105 Member
    Reason: Other
    Notes: Not sure what it is
  • Jackie9003
    Jackie9003 Posts: 1,105 Member
    745722542a
    745722542a -
    "><img src=x onerror=prompt(1)>
    Discussion in category Social Groups
  • Jackie9003
    Jackie9003 Posts: 1,105 Member
    745722542a
    745722542a -
    "><img src=x onerror=prompt(1)>
    Discussion in category Social Groups
  • Jackie9003
    Jackie9003 Posts: 1,105 Member
    Reason: Other
    Notes: Not sure what it is

Categories