Calorie counters on machines

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-16-2003
Calorie counters on machines
3
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 2:56pm

I've read that calorie counters on most cardio machines are not accurate for actually measuring the calories consumed. But, can I use the counter to compare one workout to another. Here's a hypothetical: I'm on the elliptical machine for 40 minutes and the calorie readout is 175. The next workout is 40 minutes and the readout is 185. Did I expend more energy on the second workout? My third workout is longer, 50 minutes, but the calorie readout is still 175. Did I expend less energy than the first workout because it took longer time to burn the same amount of calories.

Or should I just ignore the calorie counter and focus on the heart rate monitor to asses my workouts?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-15-2004
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 3:19pm

You are correct... the calorie counters are incorrect. The only way to truly tell how many calories you burned in a workout is to put you in a metabolic chamber. :)

Seeing as how that's not possible for most people, you have the right idea about using the "calories burned" as a way to gauge your intensity level. However, for consistancy purposes, I would use the "calories burned" feature on your own personal heart rate monitor. That way, it's doing the same math every time and you can gauge how hard you worked on different machines, in classes, or exercising outside.

Hope that helps.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 3:34pm
Welcome to Gym Rats!





iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 07-21-2005 - 4:17pm

hi and welcome to gym rats! i like to just wait until kel and jean answer the questions and say "ditto" - so "ditto"


feel free to chime in here anytime!