help please-elliptical calories

staceyw37
staceyw37 Posts: 2,094 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
hi all! i need some help with the elliptical trainer and calories burned. i have read all the posts re: using a heart rate monitor--i understand the value, but i can't afford that right now. so i use the machine and some other calculators and estimate from there.
BUT today i did the elliptical for 15 min, avg rpm 90ish, avg 2.5mph, .64miles. I used the upper body part, too and i did use the heart rate monitor on the machine some of the time.
Anyyway, it said i burned only 33 calories! Can that be right?? all other calculations put it b/n 140-190 calories.
I understand there's a variability in fitness levels on this site, and body fat %s, etc...I am not too fit having just started getting into a routine again and i don't have much muscle.
I use this site as a guideline, not exact #s, but 33?? or 140?? 180??
Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

Replies

  • staceyw37
    staceyw37 Posts: 2,094 Member
    hi all! i need some help with the elliptical trainer and calories burned. i have read all the posts re: using a heart rate monitor--i understand the value, but i can't afford that right now. so i use the machine and some other calculators and estimate from there.
    BUT today i did the elliptical for 15 min, avg rpm 90ish, avg 2.5mph, .64miles. I used the upper body part, too and i did use the heart rate monitor on the machine some of the time.
    Anyyway, it said i burned only 33 calories! Can that be right?? all other calculations put it b/n 140-190 calories.
    I understand there's a variability in fitness levels on this site, and body fat %s, etc...I am not too fit having just started getting into a routine again and i don't have much muscle.
    I use this site as a guideline, not exact #s, but 33?? or 140?? 180??
    Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
  • jelee18
    jelee18 Posts: 46
    I burn about 150 in 15 mins.
  • elli
    elli Posts: 593
    i'm pretty sure how much you burn depends on how much you weigh to begin with. I was just talking to my friend about this 'cause she weighs 208 and burns 160 calories on a 30 minute walk a 3.0. I weigh 125 and burn 109 calories on a 30 minute walk at 3.5. Hope that helps somewhat and doesn't confuse you MORE!:ohwell:
  • jhollyw00d
    jhollyw00d Posts: 68 Member
    This is such a great question. I read in Women's Health magazine recently that you have to deduct about 15% of what the machines tell you you are burning, and I followed this up with a confirmation from my personal trainer. So that means that if the machine says you're burning 150 calories, you can actually bank about 122 calories.

    What is a good way to gauge your calorie burn on these machines? I'm stumped....

    :huh:
  • pettmybunny
    pettmybunny Posts: 1,986 Member
    hi all! i need some help with the elliptical trainer and calories burned. i have read all the posts re: using a heart rate monitor--i understand the value, but i can't afford that right now. so i use the machine and some other calculators and estimate from there.
    BUT today i did the elliptical for 15 min, avg rpm 90ish, avg 2.5mph, .64miles. I used the upper body part, too and i did use the heart rate monitor on the machine some of the time.
    Anyyway, it said i burned only 33 calories! Can that be right?? all other calculations put it b/n 140-190 calories.
    I understand there's a variability in fitness levels on this site, and body fat %s, etc...I am not too fit having just started getting into a routine again and i don't have much muscle.
    I use this site as a guideline, not exact #s, but 33?? or 140?? 180??
    Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

    It can happen, believe it or not... I was on the arc trainer (I count it as an elliptical) at the gym last week, and thought I set the level at 5. But after 15 minutes on there, all I had burned was 30 some calories... I checked the level, and I was only on level 1. So, I bumped up to level 5, and next thing you know, after another 30 minutes I finished off with 384 burned. The level had a huge impact on what I was burning. Funny thing is, I didn't realize how much more I was working. Seemed like the same, but my heart rate shot way up, so I know I was working a lot harder.
  • loreeb18
    loreeb18 Posts: 1,221 Member
    I'm 5'4" 128 pounds and my heart rate monitor says I burn between 310-340 for 45 minutes. My DH has a different HRM than me. He's 5'11" 245 pounds. His says between 600-800 in 45 minutes. We don't know if such a difference because of our height and weight differences or because we use different HRMs.
  • staceyw37
    staceyw37 Posts: 2,094 Member
    thanks all for your input! i'm beginning to think it said 133 and i missed the one! i'll do the machine again today to get a better idea of how it works. hrm down the road.
    thanks again!:flowerforyou:
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