why does strength training not give calories burned?

According to my doctor you cant measure calories burned when doing strength training accurately. Not sure if this is right. Just thought I would throw it in.

Because of the variations in intensity, weights, etc, it would be really tough to calculate. If I've had a particularly vigorous session, I try to estimate how much time I spent sweating, and log half of that as "vigorous calisthenics". But I admit that's just a complete guess, and a attempt to estimate a reward for working out because eating extra food is a big incentive for me, and if I don't reward myself for lifting I'll find myself staying on the cardio machines.

From what I understand, is if you keep the intensity very high and the sets very close together, keeping your heart rate up, you burn a fair amount of calories. When I worked out yesterday I sweated just as much while doing weights as I did while doing the elliptical. So I would say I at least burned another 250 calories doing that. But I didnt enter it into the tracker.

You can add strength training under the cardio section. It is called

Strength training (weight lifting, weight training)

I have found that the calories it gives are about right as far as counting calories for diet is concerned.

To say that strength training doesn't burn any calories seems absurd. I work up a good sweat and my heart rate shoots up as well. Just try to make a low estimate by using "strength training" in the cardiovascular exercises section.

Wear a heart rate monitor when you do strength and check your progress in between sets. I add my sessions as cardio (I input my own description of the workout or just select "circuit training general". I also I infuse some cardio either before or after I lift.

Essentially, it DOES NOT burn any calories to speak of.

It's about building your muscles, nothing much to do with your caloric equation.

This is actually inaccurate. ALL activity burns calories. That's the whole premise of the BMR as a number that represents what your body burns in a coma (breathing and carrying out essential life functions). That's the whole premise behind setting your calorie intake goal to about 200 over your BMR, PLUS exercise calories, to create a healthy caloric deficit that results in weight loss. So, lifting weights and working muscle groups definitely expends calories. Driving a car always burns fuel, even if you are driving slowly.

The problem is just in calculating how many calories you do burn while working those muscle groups. The closest measure might be obtained by getting a HRM or even better, one of those nifty body bug things that measures your caloric expenditures (like at bodymedia.com) so you can get an accurate count. You won't see the calories burn like when you are doing aerobic exercises (walking, elliptical, bike, etc.) though, so if you are going to just guess, use the "calisthenics" measure from the cardio section and be very conservative in your numbers. I usually do what someone above suggested...figure out how long you were actually working at a sweat and then enter about half that.

The important thing about resistance training is not so much that it burns calories but that it helps your body use food more efficiently. In the end, experiment with the ways you enter your numbers, check the scale to make sure you are getting the results you want, and then keep doing what works. Good luck!

Essentially, it DOES NOT burn any calories to speak of.

It's about building your muscles, nothing much to do with your caloric equation.

ridiculous...........all i do for exercise is strength training, and I assure you, i burn plenty of calories in the process............as was already stated, it is logged under cardio exercises as "strength training" and if you keep your rest very short and keep moving, "circuit training"

Amen

I know damn good and well (first hand experience) that strength training burns more calories than sleeping or sitting on the couch as I am sweating my *kitten* off when lifting. IMO enough said!