strength training

Log your weight training time under the cardio section (it's in the database) and it will add in the calories burned. I think the weight training section is for you to keep track of exercises and reps.

There are other posts that I've read on here and the general belief is that it doesn't show up as calories burned because it varies so much from person to person. You can know how much for sure if you are wearing a heart monitor.
But it DOES burn calories, just not a set number from one person to another.
:happy:

Under cardio is a listing for Circuit Training and that is what I use because my weight lifting is upper then lower without breaks for over an hour! Yes you burn tons of calories and I do this plus 1/2 hr of fast paced eliptical three days a week and for sure run/ P90x plyo on the other days!! But my circuit rountine is for sure a fat burner! Good luck and KEEP up your routine!
vhuber

I've asked the same thing and gotten nowhere. There are people on here that seem to think that lifting weights doesn't burn significant calories which is clearly not the case at all. Now, while I dont use weight lifting to lose weight I deffinately lose calories doing it so I dont understand why they seem to think the opposite. I usually run and then do some weights and I just put all of the cals burned under my cardio. Basically when Im lifting weights my heartrate never goes under 120. That is twice my resting heartrate so how in the world is that not significant enough to count? I dont understand half the people on here sometimes, really. That's my take on it.

In the introduction of this site (links with answers to common questions) it explained that because people do strength training at different levels and times (different amounts of breaks between reps) that they really can't calculate for you. But you can probably calculate with a heart rate monitor yourself. Or there are sites that I have used on the internet to approximate before I get a HRM. Therefore if you want to record the calories from strength training, then you can record them in the Cardio section. I've never seen any experienced MFP member say that strength training doesn't count. It does.

Some have already mentioned that there is too much variability in strength training styles to come up with common figures.

How do you define strength training? Lifting weights? Circuit Training? Cross fit? Pilates? There is no common description, no common guidelines.

When doing traditional weight lifting, the actual number of calories expended during exercise is relatively small--the benefits come more during the recovery time between workout days. Strength training is an important part of a weight-loss program--you just cannot quantify an acute effect the way you can with cardio.

Lastly: In many cases, using a HRM to estimate calories burned during strength training is useless. The relationship between HR and oxygen uptake does not exist during traditional weight lifting. If you are following a typical routine--using selectorized machines, free weights, doing 3 sets of 8-12 reps, etc--then the number from an HRM is just an imaginary figure.

If you are taking a mixed class that combines cardio and strength, the calorie numbers are more accurate, but may still overestimate total calories burned. Essentially, if the movement is dynamic enough that it is primarily aerobic in nature, then the resistance is so low, strength gains will be minimal, and vice versa.

The body's systems are dynamic--it's not an "on/off" situation--so especially in a class you will get a mixed response. But, again, if you are lifting weights only, the calorie numbers from an HRM are useless.