Exercise is Our Friend Topic

Airedalegal 10/28/10
I recently had a change in venue for my exercise. I am now at a new gym. My old elliptical machine and NMD's calorie estimate were close, 30 min 350 calories. I usually posted the lower total. This made me feel great.

My new machines, varying types of ellipticals, read a much lower calorie burn count, 240 calories for 30 min. This is kind of depressing for me. Which do you think I should believe? My logic tells me the actual machines themselves. What do you all think?

Kamdis 10/29/10
Well, it could be you are gaining strength and stamina, so as you do the calories burned from the same type, intensity and length of exercise will burn fewer calories.

I'd still default to the lower count. But you might think about investing in a heart rate monitor, which will be more accurate than either the machine or MND estimates.

Jodie 10/29/10
As you lose weight as well, your calorie burn will lower. But as a treadmill fan..I trust the machine computed calories burned, as it is reading more variables and I too noticed the difference between NMD and my machine.



Also 30 minute workout burning 240 calories is awesome!! Maybe I should invest in an elliptical.

Airedalegal 10/29/10 replied to Kamdis
I have a heart rate monitor, how do you calculate from it? I always watch my heart rate to make sure I am in the target zone I am working toward and not over it. I tend to like to push higher than you should for fat burning.

Airedalegal 10/29/10 replied to Jodie
Yeah, once I saw the difference I can't hardly stay on a treadmill now. I use it for warm-up and cool down. That has been the nice thing about the new gym, it has a wide variety of aerobic machines. Now I am splitting the time between different machines. They all burn around the same.

Until I can run (still too heavy) my poor dog is suffering, I don't walk as much.

Ccmandel 10/30/10
Airedalegal...kudos to you for getting infused with new energy on the ellipticals.

I prefer the elliptical for more calorie burning and the perceived workout is better too...at least for me.


I make sure to input my weight and age and I consider the machine the most valueable number because of this.

This is a machine at our gym which allows you to alter your stride -- this gives me the largest number of calories burned for a 30-40 min workout ~350

I also find that the interval workouts burn more calories and I am more invested in them.

Great going!

Susan

Kamdis 10/31/10 replied to Airedalegal
Airedalegal, my HRM actually calculates calories based on height, weight, age, gender and heart rate. I got it at Target on sale. I think it's New Balance brand.

Airedalegal 11/01/10 replied to Kamdis
Thanks Kamdis. I appreciate the info!

Esra_oz 11/02/10
I used to run about 6 miles three times a week but ended up straining my achilles tendon so running is out for a while.

Instead my physio said to get on the cross-trainer (elliptical) and use that as the impact is less and the cals burnt per hour is similar (but not quite as good)

I love it. I was on for 30 minutes today. Set it to level 10 and stayed above 60rpm the whole time and ended up burning about 580 cals.

It's a great way to burn the cals while your heavier or injured.

Airedalegal 11/02/10 replied to Esra_oz
Yeah, I am too heavy and have knees that are shot through with arthritis. No pounding activities for me! So I also love the elliptical. I,m not quite at level ten yet either. Some day! ;0)

Exercise is Our Friend