Calorie Counts on Exercise Machines
7:35 PMBy: Kristi Tamaki / Best Teen Diets Contributor
Would subtracting 150 calories from the 500 you thought you racked up on the treadmill be a bit disheartening? We think so. Not that 350 isn’t an accomplishment. But we like to believe that we are being told the truth, especially if it is good information.
When it comes to calorie estimates on the treadmill, elliptical, stationary bicycle, etc. we cannot always be sure that what we see is what we are getting. Makers of these machines are not out to fool us, but here are some good things to know when you step on:
- Most machines are based off of 150-lb individuals.
- Machines DO NOT know: our lean body mass, our fitness level, how many times we have done the same routine on the same machine, how our form is (whether we are leaning on the handles). All of these affect the number of calories we burn.
- Machines ARE using scientific equations and VO2 max data (in simple terms, a measure of how much oxygen your body is using during intense exercise). It’s just... there are too many variables that are not accounted for.
- An experiment done by Good Morning America found that machines overestimate by an average of 19%.
- A professor of exercise and sport science at the University of Wisconsin says estimates can be as much as 30% off.
Not to worry, you do not have to stop working out at the gym. The machines still provide good information for you whether you are using them regularly or just every so often. Plus, we will give you some things to keep in mind for your next workout.
What to use the data for
- Notice improvements. Maybe last week you ran a mile in 11:30 but this week you ran it in 10:30--what can you attribute that one-minute difference to?
- Understand speed. It can help you know what running at 7.0 miles per hour vs. 3.5 miles per hour feels like (we understand that it feels different to run on a treadmill vs. the road or track).
Tips for using exercise equipment
- Enter your age and weight (physiologists recommend entering a lower weight-- we say no more than 20-30%).
- Remember that even when you enter your age and weight, you are most likely not burning the exact number of calories that you are seeing.
- It is never too late to work on technique and form. Active.com has plenty of resources, just search for the activity you want to work on.
- Don’t base your accomplishments on numbers of calories. Set goals like cycling one mile more than last time, adding five minutes to each workout, or changing your workout from steady state to interval training. The feelings of accomplishment will be far more rewarding than an estimated number of calories!
Read more at: Don’t Get Burned by Calorie Counters by Eric Noll and About Calorie Counters on Exercise Machines by Andrea Cespedes.
Check out MyPlate’s SuperTracker to track what you eat and what you do for FREE! *Physical Activity estimates on this site are based off of what average people burn in the listed activities.
Best Teen Diets recommends healthy well balanced eating that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy. We offer nutrition information for teens, parents and educators that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating for peak performance. For more information regarding healthy eating for teens visit www.bestteendiets.org
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