Seriously DONT get it

KatieJane83 · May 2012

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How are you estimating your calories burned? Do you use a heart rate monitor? For me, MFP often overestimates my calories burned. If I do 45 minutes on my stationary bike, MFP tells me it's something like 600 calories, but the bike came with a chest strap HRM built into it and it would give me about 275 for that same 45 minutes. MFPs calories burned are just estimates and aren't necessarily going to be accurate. If I were you I'd invest in an HRM, or only eat back about half of the exercise calories for awhile and see if that makes a difference.

that is the biggest discrepancy I have seen anyone state as far as actual calories burned vs MFP stated...I really hope that's not true...I at least thought the estimates were in the ball park o_O

An HRM is really the best way to go. There seems to be a lot of fluctuation with mfp's estimates depending on the person and the exercise. Some types of exercises are overestimated, some are underestimated, etc.

peacefulsong · May 2012

show previous quotes

How are you estimating your calories burned? Do you use a heart rate monitor? For me, MFP often overestimates my calories burned. If I do 45 minutes on my stationary bike, MFP tells me it's something like 600 calories, but the bike came with a chest strap HRM built into it and it would give me about 275 for that same 45 minutes. MFPs calories burned are just estimates and aren't necessarily going to be accurate. If I were you I'd invest in an HRM, or only eat back about half of the exercise calories for awhile and see if that makes a difference.

that is the biggest discrepancy I have seen anyone state as far as actual calories burned vs MFP stated...I really hope that's not true...I at least thought the estimates were in the ball park o_O

It was awhile back so it might have been a bit smaller than that but I remember being surprised at the discrepancy and thinking MFP told me something close to 600 (maybe it was more like 575 or something). I just now went in and put in 45 minutes of stationary bike, general and MFP gave me 620 calories burned, when last night I did 250 in 38 minutes according to my bike's HRM. It probably depends on how MFP is calculating it. They are probably assuming a faster speed than I'm going to go, etc. I think other exercises might not be as off.

justal313 · May 2012

Go back through the setup wizard, set your lifestyle to sedentary, and log your exercise as your exercise so you have to burn it to earn it.

MFP can be inaccurate about calorie burn, often overstating it. 60 minutes of full-on burn for me (216 pounds, 40+ years old) is about 800 calories. The site is giving you 600 calories for a spinning class and 15 minutes of cardio - which may or may not be accurate for your weight and age. There are many "how many calories do I burn at a given heart rate" calculators out there that you can enter your weight, age, height, and heartrate and it will give you a reasonable guess. Work out on a cardio machine that measures heart rate, learn what you burn, and go from there. Or get a heart rate monitor.

I got a heart rate monitor and found out that the equipment at the gym reports less than the HRM and MFP greatly overestimates.

Also, I am an IT worker so I spend all day at a desk unless I'm walking out to the lab to change out a failed piece of equipment. So I've set my lifestyle to sedentary and record my exercise. I've lost 40lbs since Jan 1st so I must be doing something right.

Seriously DONT get it

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