How accurate do you think exercise machines are about calories lost?

Kaspara

Kaspara

New member
Especially if they do not ask you to input your height and weight... I feel as if the machines I use tell me I'm burning WAY more than what I'm actually losing, as I don't feel tired after getting off the machines.

Any thoughts, comments, ideas?
 
This is only what I've gathered from reading around forums like these and from my personal experience (I'm sure someone else can provide you with a reference though) but exercise machines are extremely inaccurate, particularly so if it doesn't even ask for your height, weight and/or age.

I believe they usually base their equations on an average weight male, so if you're female, overweight, older or younger, then the estimate is probably going to be way off.

I own a heart rate monitor and when I've been on the elliptical at my gym, having entered my height, weight and age, it's often off by 2-300kcal at the end of a 40 minute session. I think that's quite significant!

So yeah I suggest you get a heart rate monitor if you want to have a better estimate (it will always be an estimate) :)
 
Thanks! Do you know a good place to buy one, I'm hoping they aren't too expensive, but it would really help my workouts if I got a more accurate number!
 
I bought mine from Amazon. They've usually got the cheapest prices I find.

It's a polar brand watch, which I chose because the reviews were good.
 
I have a polar heart rate monitor also.

I did a little experiment the other day, where I compared the calories burned and heart rate on my heart rate monitor to what it said on my cardio machine.

The heart rate was spot on, the machine was always within 1-2 beats/min if not exactly right.

At the end of the workout, my heart rate monitor said I burned 340 calories, and the machine said I burned 430!

So yeah, I don't think they are terribly accurate.
 
I find the difference even higher on some machines: the stepper machine/stairmaster tells me after 20 mins I have done 300kcals but my HRM tells me I have done 175. The elliptical machine tells me I have burnt 345kcals my HRM tells me 155.

Just a joke- find it so hard not to interrupt others in the chainging room when they say "oh I did 450kcals today!" just a joke!

Having said that, even on the Polar forums they guess at the HRM being around 20% more then it really is and they are known for their accuracy.
 
The heart rate was spot on, the machine was always within 1-2 beats/min if not exactly right.
Click to expand...

Are you sure that's not cause the machine is picking up the heart rate monitor's signal? I think that's actually a design feature. That's what the machines at my old gym seemed to do?? I'm not totally sure.
 
I'm sure exercise machines are REALLY accurate...as long as you are the exact weight that the manufacturer used in order to get it's estimates.
 
i really need to get one of these toys. there has been a couple of times ive gone and was doing walking and it was like estimating 400 calories when i was done. so i know its not accurate. its actually pretty darn scary how much work you have to do to lose burn 200 calories and you could get that 200 calories back just by eating a teaspoon of salad dressing. maybe when i get paid i will get one. i think they sell em at walgreens too.
 
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