Calories burned?
While on the treadmill this morning I was thinking about how many calories am I really burning? There is a number there showing me ... but is it the truth?
Thinking about these little devices that people wear on their belt to tell them how many steps they have taken and how many calories they have burned or thinking about apps in phones that tell you how many calories you've burned ... I've been thinking about buying one but just not sure if I really want to or not.
Everyone burns calories at a different rate. It depends on your muscle mass, metabolism, your heart rate, going up hill, etc.
Surely a 390 lb man walking 3 mph at a 5.0 incline with a heart rate of 160 is going to burn more calories then someone 200 lbs doing the same with a heart rate of 110.
Unless you can put all these factors into the machine or device you are using and it can monitor your heart rate constantly how do you really know how many calories your burning? Until now, I haven't thought too much about it. I guess it really doesn't matter in the long run (no pun intended) as long as your exercising but some folks on here seem to like to keep a very strict and accurate count on all their daily numbers and it would just be nice to know that the numbers are accurate. I am not a huge numbers cruncher to be honest but just enjoy knowing that I'm doing something to get healthier.
I guess science hasn't come quite that far just yet but these machines give a general ballpark idea I suppose.
Thinking about these little devices that people wear on their belt to tell them how many steps they have taken and how many calories they have burned or thinking about apps in phones that tell you how many calories you've burned ... I've been thinking about buying one but just not sure if I really want to or not.
Everyone burns calories at a different rate. It depends on your muscle mass, metabolism, your heart rate, going up hill, etc.
Surely a 390 lb man walking 3 mph at a 5.0 incline with a heart rate of 160 is going to burn more calories then someone 200 lbs doing the same with a heart rate of 110.
Unless you can put all these factors into the machine or device you are using and it can monitor your heart rate constantly how do you really know how many calories your burning? Until now, I haven't thought too much about it. I guess it really doesn't matter in the long run (no pun intended) as long as your exercising but some folks on here seem to like to keep a very strict and accurate count on all their daily numbers and it would just be nice to know that the numbers are accurate. I am not a huge numbers cruncher to be honest but just enjoy knowing that I'm doing something to get healthier.
I guess science hasn't come quite that far just yet but these machines give a general ballpark idea I suppose.
I keep track, but don't rely on the calories burned number. I look for trends. My fitbit actually cranks out a general activity score that I really like- just a quick snapshot of how much you are active for the day. I like using that more now then even tracking minutes. It adjusts around intensity. For example, I frequently take long walks. One location is trails and it is pretty hilly (enough to make me pant!). My acitivy score is much higher on those days then when I do about the same number of minutes when the DH and I walk and go to stores- much flatter and on pavement.
More then anything, I am an advocate of just moving my mass!
More then anything, I am an advocate of just moving my mass!
Surgeon: Chengelis Surgery on 12/19/2011 A little less carb eating compared to my weight loss phase loose sleever here!
1Mo: -21 2Mo: -16 3Mo: -12 4MO - 13 5MO: -11 6MO: -10 7MO: -10.3 8MO: -6 Goal in 8 months 4 days!! 6' 2'' EWL 103% Starting size 28 or 4x (tight) now size 12 or large, shoe size 12 w to 10.5 150+ pounds lost
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Check out fitbit. I just bought one and reallly like it so far. It also syncs up with my fitness pal so I get a total view of consumptioin and "extra" calories earned (which I don't use) so I know my net calories for the day. I love the way it tracks my sleep - although I don't think it is 100%, it is interesting to see how many times I wake up each night. I had noticed that some folks on MFP were using it so checked it out and decided to buy it instead of a regular pedometer.
There are only two really correct ways of estimating calories burned - Heart Rate monitoring and V02 Exchange. The first requires wearing a HRM with continuous monitoring, I use a Polar RS100. The second uses the amount of oxygen exchanged through the skin.
There are a number of recent studies that give formula based on the heart rate or o2 exchange rate that also take into account the heart rate, weight and duraction. Here is the formula I use:
=((-55.0969 + (0.6309*AVERAGE HEART RATE) + (0.1988*WEIGHT) + (0.2017*AGE))/4.184)*DURATION
I usually take the number off my HRM because it uses the instantaneous heart rate that it measures. It tends to be a more conservative estimate than the formula above. MFP also goves an estimate close to my HRM, but that comes from interpolation in their database. I wear my HRM when I am doing tasks like mowing the lawn or bicycling so I have a more accurate number to put in my diary.
I don't rely on the fitbit calories burned at all. I should be losing 5 lbs a day if that thing were to be believed. Also, the HRMs on exercise machines seem to be wonky as well. I think sweat or my wedding band interferes with them. I noticed last week that it would sometimes be off 20-30 beats per minute from what my Polar was reading.
My advice, in general, take calories burned with a grain of salt and go with the most conservative estimate you get.
There are a number of recent studies that give formula based on the heart rate or o2 exchange rate that also take into account the heart rate, weight and duraction. Here is the formula I use:
=((-55.0969 + (0.6309*AVERAGE HEART RATE) + (0.1988*WEIGHT) + (0.2017*AGE))/4.184)*DURATION
I usually take the number off my HRM because it uses the instantaneous heart rate that it measures. It tends to be a more conservative estimate than the formula above. MFP also goves an estimate close to my HRM, but that comes from interpolation in their database. I wear my HRM when I am doing tasks like mowing the lawn or bicycling so I have a more accurate number to put in my diary.
I don't rely on the fitbit calories burned at all. I should be losing 5 lbs a day if that thing were to be believed. Also, the HRMs on exercise machines seem to be wonky as well. I think sweat or my wedding band interferes with them. I noticed last week that it would sometimes be off 20-30 beats per minute from what my Polar was reading.
My advice, in general, take calories burned with a grain of salt and go with the most conservative estimate you get.
_____________________________________________________________________
160 lbs lost. Surgeons Goal Reached in 33 weeks. My Goal in 37 Weeks.
VSG: 11/2/2011; LBL+Thigh Lift+BL: 10/3/2012; Brach+Mastopexy: 7/22/2013
On June 10, 2012 at 7:35 AM Pacific Time, rhearob wrote:
There are only two really correct ways of estimating calories burned - Heart Rate monitoring and V02 Exchange. The first requires wearing a HRM with continuous monitoring, I use a Polar RS100. The second uses the amount of oxygen exchanged through the skin.There are a number of recent studies that give formula based on the heart rate or o2 exchange rate that also take into account the heart rate, weight and duraction. Here is the formula I use:
=((-55.0969 + (0.6309*AVERAGE HEART RATE) + (0.1988*WEIGHT) + (0.2017*AGE))/4.184)*DURATION
I usually take the number off my HRM because it uses the instantaneous heart rate that it measures. It tends to be a more conservative estimate than the formula above. MFP also goves an estimate close to my HRM, but that comes from interpolation in their database. I wear my HRM when I am doing tasks like mowing the lawn or bicycling so I have a more accurate number to put in my diary.
I don't rely on the fitbit calories burned at all. I should be losing 5 lbs a day if that thing were to be believed. Also, the HRMs on exercise machines seem to be wonky as well. I think sweat or my wedding band interferes with them. I noticed last week that it would sometimes be off 20-30 beats per minute from what my Polar was reading.
My advice, in general, take calories burned with a grain of salt and go with the most conservative estimate you get.
Band to VSG revision: June 3, 2009
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
SW 270lbs GW 150lbs CW Losing Pregancy Weight Maintenance goal W 125-130lbs
I only use this stuff as a rough estimate, I noticed my step counter was counting when I cleared it, set it on the car seat went to put it on for my walk and it had 25 steps on it lol, it was still going after I stopped to read it. So I know to clear it now as I start walking. Once again you can only roughly take this information to heart.
Pre op 6 lbs lost, M1 - 23 lbs M2 - 11 lbs M3 - 12 M4 - 6 M5 -10 M6 -10 M7 -7 M8 - 4 M9 - 4
M10- 4 M11 - 5 M12 - 0
I try not to get mixed up with the numbers. I'm not one who needs to know exact figures. I know if I had a good workout or not. I understand that it's a round about number for the exact reasons you mentioned. Just like calorie counting another round about number.
I know myfitnesspal calories are way off because they only go by weight and time. A treadmill should be more accurate if you allow it to monitor your heart rate and you enter your weight.
Jsut keep moving!!
I know myfitnesspal calories are way off because they only go by weight and time. A treadmill should be more accurate if you allow it to monitor your heart rate and you enter your weight.
Jsut keep moving!!
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