Strength Training exercises NOT TAKING OFF CALORIES????

SRTuLTR
SRTuLTR Posts: 2
in Fitness and Exercise
Just put in my whole workout with STRENGTH TRAINING exercises already in the system, and when I add them it doesn't take off any calories from exercise? Is there something I am doing wrong, or does it only take off calories for Cardio?

Thanks !

Replies

  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    It doesn't take off calories from strength training because it varies so much from person to person. You'd have to wear a heart rate monitor and enter it manually as cardio to account for it. Sorry!
  • SRTuLTR
    SRTuLTR Posts: 2
    Thats what I figured! But what about something as simple as pushups with no added weight?

    So I would enter what my heart rate was for a measured period of time?
  • McLifterPants
    McLifterPants Posts: 457 Member
    You can find calculators online that will estimate how many calories you burned over a period of time based on your age, height, weight, length of activity, gender, and average heart rate. You'd have to be checking your heart rate regularly throughout the activity to get an accurate estimate though. Many heart rate monitors attach around your chest with a strap and will estimate how many calories you burned over a certain time frame based on constantly recording your heart rate, which is more accurate, but most of them are at least $60.
  • nikiluv408
    nikiluv408 Posts: 1
    Would be a nice feature to add this calculation. Love myfitnesspal app!
  • MDWilliams1857
    MDWilliams1857 Posts: 315 Member
    Yea, I wear my HRM and then add all my weight training as cardio. Of Course I do cardio and weight training at the same time so its a little different.
  • Pebble321
    Pebble321 Posts: 6,423 Member
    From the MFP FAQ's (maybe a good idea to check those before shouting at us?):


    Doesn't strength training burn calories? Why don't you show any calories burned for strength training?

    Estimating the calories burned from strength training is very difficult because it depends on a variety of factors: how much weight you lifted per repetition, how vigorously you performed that exercise, how much rest you took between sets, etc. Because of this, we do not automatically calculate how many calories you burned from strength training exercises.

    However, if you'd like, you can add "Strength training" as a cardio exercise to get a rough estimate of how many calories you burned. Please be aware though that this is definitely a rough estimate and can be fairly inaccurate.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    search under cardio for strength training, and enter how many minutes you did - youll get an estimate (which is really what all the numbers are anyway)
  • AmandaTWaH
    AmandaTWaH Posts: 181 Member
    Though it should be noted that HRMs are not accurate for strength training.
  • vanillarama
    vanillarama Posts: 101 Member
    There is an option under cardio to add in strength training. If you're going decently hard, it isn't too far off (at least for me). Check it out.
  • blueandigo
    blueandigo Posts: 296
    Why not?

    BTW use this guys

    http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx
  • marulm
    marulm Posts: 26 Member
    Strength training is in listed as an exercise in the cardiovascular database. Use that for the calories. The Strength Training box is just for you to keep track of what you did, reps, etc.
  • AmandaTWaH
    AmandaTWaH Posts: 181 Member
    This explains why HRMs don't work for strength training.

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75
  • lovinmyselfagain
    lovinmyselfagain Posts: 307 Member
    Under cardio there is a strength training option for calories burned. So enter what you actually did under "strength exercise" and to calculate calories go to the cardio section and look for strength training and enter the amount of minutes. It will obviously be a loose estimate since it's not taking into account the amount of weight you lifted or reps, but it's something. And if you find a more accurate strength training calculator on the web, then you can input how many calories you actually burned, instead of relying on MFP.
  • MDWilliams1857
    MDWilliams1857 Posts: 315 Member
    How is an HRM not accurate for strength training? It records a constant heart rate and gives your numbers based on age, weight, height, resting HR, max HR etc... I know its not 100%, it can never be 100% no mater what you do. But you can wear an HRM with a chest strap all day and find out how many calories you burn in your everyday activity. Its going to be just as accurate for strength training as it is for cardio or just normal daily activities.
  • JenaePavlak
    JenaePavlak Posts: 350 Member
    Though it should be noted that HRMs are not accurate for strength training.

    This is correct!! HRMs only work for cardio as well! :)

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75

    >>>"The problem is a technical one. Calorie burning isn't determined by heart rate, it's determined by the number of muscle cells that are activated to perform a given activity. It's the working cells that actually use the energy (calories) and consume oxygen. When working muscle cells need more energy and oxygen, your heart rate goes up to deliver these things to the cells via the blood stream.

    Any muscle that performs a high intensity or maximum effort (strength training) will trigger an increase in heart rate and blood flow. But if only a single muscle group is on the receiving end to utilize that extra oxygen (doing a strength exercise that isolates your biceps, for example), only a relatively small amount of oxygen (and calories) will actually be consumed."
  • MDWilliams1857
    MDWilliams1857 Posts: 315 Member
    This explains why HRMs don't work for strength training.

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75


    I can see that. I do cardio acceleration with my weight training though so I doubt this applies to what I do. Good stuff though.
  • blueandigo
    blueandigo Posts: 296
    This explains why HRMs don't work for strength training.

    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75


    I can see that. I do cardio acceleration with my weight training though so I doubt this applies to what I do. Good stuff though.

    Yeah the same here. I will do a certain machine, etc then I will run for 2 mins at 8.0 and/or to push-ups, etc.
  • vanillarama
    vanillarama Posts: 101 Member
    Compound movements that involve more muscle groups (i.e. deadlift vs. bicep curls) are going to both raise your HR more and burn more overall calories.

    Though- take strength training for what it is- it is an investment in the metabolism bank!!!

    Edit- among 5000 other awesome things, like being stronger and more functional.

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