MFP Over Estimating Calories Burned?

AlaskaLily
AlaskaLily Posts: 75 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Has anyone else noticed this?

When I enter minutes into cardio, MFP estimates calories burned. This is handy, but I wonder how accurate? Compared to my HRM that is adjusted to me specifically, MFP's estimate is always WAY over. For example, 45 minutes on the elliptical = 530-550 calories burned according to my HRM. MFP estimates it at 600+. I guess this is my attempt at a heart rate monitor commercial, because they rock...and are way more accurate. I would warn people to take MFP's calorie estimations with a grain of salt and be sure not to rely totally on this program to estimate your expenditure!

Happy Weight Losing!

Replies

  • lin7604
    lin7604 Posts: 2,951 Member
    yes i agree. i know that is the reason why i lost nothing my 1st month, i was getting so discouraged and wasn't loosing 1 lb. then once i hrm, i realized my numbers were almost 1/2 of what mfp and my equipment showed... so once i started with correct numbers i am steadily loosing 2 lbs a month. i eat my exercise calories back and i was "over" eating with their numbers...
  • MrDude_1
    MrDude_1 Posts: 2,487 Member
    most people and calculations will over estimate calories burned. when you combine that with the insane notion that you shouldnt try to lose more then x weight at a time... you end up with people just spinning their wheels.. doing nothing.

    i see it everyday.. but theres a reason people get average results from doing what everyone else is doing... and the average person is not what most people want to be.
  • sarafil
    sarafil Posts: 506 Member
    Yes, I've always thought MFP over estimates. I purposefully put in less than I actually do, just to try and keep me honest....
  • HeartME511healthy
    HeartME511healthy Posts: 163 Member
    Yes, I would agree the MFP calculates to high for some of the work outs, I always adjust the timing to match the burned calories.....
  • mejustsmaller316
    mejustsmaller316 Posts: 134 Member
    If i go to the gym i use what the machine says.
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    MFP would estimate about 5% more than my HRM for most exercises. But sometimes, MFP would estimate fewer calories than my HRM.
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