How do you know how accurate your exercise calorie count is?

You can only tell by using a heart rate monitor.

Definetly get a HRM -- I was just like you, depending on the machine to give me my heart rate and calorie burn, I got a heart rate monitor for xmas and I LOVE IT !!! Let me tell you, the machines are not accurate !!! Definetly invest in a HRM -- well worth it, and you get a accurate calorie count/heart rate !!

Machines generally are generous in their estimates. A hrm is a good way to get a more accurate reading. Some nowadays will even tell you how good your sleep was! Lol don't personally know how accurate those are but it might be fun to try one ( some measure sweat, stairs walked etc)

My workout is usually running on a treadmill, but it seems like the calorie count varies from machine to machine. I'd hate to be sabotaging my own success because I'm overestimating how many extra calories I get for the day...I love to eat!!! Any idea how to be sure?

You don't know; it's a guess.
And you must really watch your weight closely and tweak it to find your zone.
I can't go by the MFP data base; their numbers for calories burned is way too high.
Why?
My intensity is low but duration high. Solution?
I lowered the calorie burn and raised the activity level to it's highest setting which only accounts for 500 calories per day.

So, when you see on my wall that I "burned 890 calories doing 120 minutes of cardio exercises, including 'Boxing Training - Sparing/Shadow Boxing'" one might see that number as low for a 2 hour workout.

But I am right on track, in complete control, eating 3200 calories per day and losing 1 lb or so every week.

I found my zone.

Good luck to you!

I would agree with most all these ppl. If your running/jogging on a treadmill your not suppose to be holding the bars to get a HR. You would have to hold the HRM on the machine the whole time for it to be SOME WHAT CLOSE. I did see one other person say something about RUNKEEPER. Great app and they are pretty freaking close to what your doing if you put all the proper data into it. If you cant afford a HRM (they do get pricy) look into RUNKEEPER app for your phone its free or you can do a few different test on like a elliptical where you can hold the sensors during the activity and just get a few different HR for 3 to 5 mins each and get the average from that. If you dont get what I mean add me up and I will message you on how to do it. Also feel free to just add me if you want also.

P.S Continue29 runkeeper tracks swimming also. Just another way to double check your swimming cals. I swim with my HRM.

Why does everyone seem to think that HRM is the holy grail of calories burned?

Some people have more efficient lungs, less efficient muscles, better form, different genetics.

The calorie burn based on a HRM is just an estimate. Calorie burn is something that occurs at a cellular level. Although heart rate can be very mathematically tied to calorie burn, the science is not exact and is based on averages and empirical data.

:flowerforyou: if you have not got a hrm then it is acually a good idea if not then always under estimate and then you just can't be wrong!

Why does everyone seem to think that HRM is the holy grail of calories burned?

Some people have more efficient lungs, less efficient muscles, better form, different genetics.

The calorie burn based on a HRM is just an estimate. Calorie burn is something that occurs at a cellular level. Although heart rate can be very mathematically tied to calorie burn, the science is not exact and is based on averages and empirical data.

Because for a lot of people, they do help. If you get a decent one(IE one that takes into consideration age, weight, height, gender and V02max) you are going to get a pretty accurate estimation.

No one is saying that it is the end all estimation of calories burned, but for most that is the option if they are serious about an as accurate as you can get estimation.

Why does everyone seem to think that HRM is the holy grail of calories burned?

Some people have more efficient lungs, less efficient muscles, better form, different genetics.

The calorie burn based on a HRM is just an estimate. Calorie burn is something that occurs at a cellular level. Although heart rate can be very mathematically tied to calorie burn, the science is not exact and is based on averages and empirical data.

Because outside of a lab - it is the holy grail of calories burned! What exactly do you think would be, between machine data, table data on website, finger monitor, or HRM?

And for exactly the reason that people have more efficient lungs, less efficient muscles, better form, different genetics - those are exactly the reason why a HRM would be useful.
You would get at some pace avg HR of 150 - someone with differences you listed could be 160.

And as such, your level of effort would be different, and calories burned would be different.

And studies have shown a very good correlation between HR and calories burned, and if your HRM uses enough info and advanced formulas, it can be highly accurate.

http://www.braydenwm.com/cal_vs_hr_ref_paper.pdf

The correlation coefficient (r) between the measured and estimated
energy expenditure was 0.913. The model therefore accounted for 83.3%
([R.sup.2]) of the variance in energy expenditure in this sample. Because a
measure of fitness, such as V[O.sub.2max], is not always available, a model
without V[O.sub.2max] included was also fitted. The correlation coefficient
between the measured energy expenditure and estimates from the mixed model
without V[O.sub.2max] was 0.857. It follows that the model without a fitness
measure accounted for 73.4% of the variance in energy expenditure in this
sample. Based on these results, we conclude that it is possible to estimate
physical activity energy expenditure from heart rate in a group of individuals with
a great deal of accuracy, after adjusting for age, gender, body mass and fitness.


Or you can take your cheap HRM that doesn't have enough stats entered to calculate calories well, and use a good one.

http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

I agree that if you want the most accurate estimate, invest in a heart rate monitor! I just got one a little over a week ago, & I wish I had gotten one months ago! I have found that my actual burn is MORE than what MFP or the treadmill typically gave me, which is awesome. I'm sure at one point once I get in better shape, my actual readings will be less, but I'm enjoying it for now. Either way, it's good to know exactly what you burn so you don't over or underestimate calories burned, especially when you eat back most of your calories!