For those of you who've actually measured calories burned...

[JVo]

So, I've never used one of those BodyBuggs or any other devices that measure calories burned. For those of you that have,
how much do you burn on a leg day? upper body day?
How long is your workout?

I'm just over 100 lbs. I usually guess that maybe I burn 100 - 200 calories in my workouts, but I guess I really don't know...

[JVo]

nobody?

[freebirdmac]

I burn anywhere between 150-250 cals. Doesn't matter if it's upper or lower. Lower does tend to burn more, but I've had some upper body sessions that beat my lower body sessions. I'm usually at the lower end if I've adapted to the routine or it's one of those days where my body just isn't into doing much that day (although I try). The upper end usually occurs when I have switched things up.

For me I just use an average of 200 cals per workout. Over a month it'll usually average out to that.

[JVo]

I burn anywhere between 150-250 cals. Doesn't matter if it's upper or lower. Lower does tend to burn more, but I've had some upper body sessions that beat my lower body sessions. I'm usually at the lower end if I've adapted to the routine or it's one of those days where my body just isn't into doing much that day (although I try). The upper end usually occurs when I have switched things up.

For me I just use an average of 200 cals per workout. Over a month it'll usually average out to that.

Cool, thanks!

[Zenree]

I burn anywhere between 150-250 cals. Doesn't matter if it's upper or lower. Lower does tend to burn more, but I've had some upper body sessions that beat my lower body sessions. I'm usually at the lower end if I've adapted to the routine or it's one of those days where my body just isn't into doing much that day (although I try). The upper end usually occurs when I have switched things up.

For me I just use an average of 200 cals per workout. Over a month it'll usually average out to that.

Ditto to what freebirdmac said --- I sue a Polar F6 to track my hr/calories burned --- 200-250 for a weights-only workout for me

[JVo]

Ditto to what freebirdmac said --- I sue a Polar F6 to track my hr/calories burned --- 200-250 for a weights-only workout for me

Whoo hoo! More data points! Thank you.

[Tiffany_P]

Using a Polar F6, I tend to burn about 400 calories doing an hour-long full body workout. If I subtract the 90 that I would've burned sitting on my butt instead, then it's about 300 net calories. 200 is probably a good estimate for you since I'm 50% heavier than you.

[JVo]

Using a Polar F6, I tend to burn about 400 calories doing an hour-long full body workout. If I subtract the 90 that I would've burned sitting on my butt instead, then it's about 300 net calories. 200 is probably a good estimate for you since I'm 50% heavier than you.

Oh yeah...hmm...so this is probably a stupid question, but I know a lot of the calories we burn are due to our bodies doing it's thing to keep us alive (digestive processes, etc.). So these devices actually measure total calories burned, rather than just calories due to exercise? So, if I wore it all day, it would actually report 1500 - 2000 calories?

[Tiffany_P]

Oh yeah...hmm...so this is probably a stupid question, but I know a lot of the calories we burn are due to our bodies doing it's thing to keep us alive (digestive processes, etc.). So these devices actually measure total calories burned, rather than just calories due to exercise? So, if I wore it all day, it would actually report 1500 - 2000 calories?

Yup, and guess what? The calorie counters on the treadmill or elliptical machine are also counting TOTAL calories and not NET calories. Aint that a pisser?

[JVo]

Yup, and guess what? The calorie counters on the treadmill or elliptical machine are also counting TOTAL calories and not NET calories. Aint that a pisser?

Really? Wow, I bet most people have no idea. Luckily, I always took those with a grain of salt anyway.

[JVo]

So, Zenree and FreeBirdMac: Do the numbers that you show represent "total calories", or did you subtract non-exercise calories?

[Zenree]

So, Zenree and FreeBirdMac: Do the numbers that you show represent "total calories", or did you subtract non-exercise calories?

Personally, I use the entire number -- I know there are times during my workout that I'm "resting" --but my heart reat is definately elevated for the entire time --- I use it as a guage --- I'm not exactly "consuming" those add'l calories --- so yeah, its just a number in the end

[freebirdmac]

So, Zenree and FreeBirdMac: Do the numbers that you show represent "total calories", or did you subtract non-exercise calories?

I also use the number as is. Afterburn makes up for resting cals.

[Swiss64]

Just chiming in to say my Polar usually gives me about 200-250 (occasionally I'll hit 300 on a leg workout if I throw in some little mini circuits at the end...but that's rare). The vast majority of the time it's between 200-250. I'm 5'2" and 115 lbs.

[Tiffany_P]

I also use the number as is. Afterburn makes up for resting cals.

This is a good point, and something that I've considered. It's probably a close approximation for higher intensity workouts, but for lower ones, it will be an overestimation. Just some quick math to demonstrate, using 1.5 cal/min as a resting metabolic rate:

Scenario 1:
Running 3 miles in 25 minutes
Treadmill calorie count: 250 calories
Net calories: 250 - 25*1.5 = 212.5 + afterburn

Scenario 2:
Walking 3 miles in 60 minutes
Treadmill calorie count: 250 calories
Net calories: 250 - 60*1.5 = 160 + afterburn

Since the afterburn for low intensity activities is a lot less than in high intensity activities, we can see that running 3 miles is going to burn significantly more calories than walking, even though the treadmill will give us the same number.

[JVo]

Great info! So, would you ever try wearing the thing around the whole day? Have you done that? It's gotta be bothersome, but I think I'd be tempted to try it if I had one. I'm assuming it's generally just worn during a workout...but maybe not?

[freebirdmac]

This is a good point, and something that I've considered. It's probably a close approximation for higher intensity workouts, but for lower ones, it will be an overestimation. Just some quick math to demonstrate, using 1.5 cal/min as a resting metabolic rate:

Scenario 1:
Running 3 miles in 25 minutes
Treadmill calorie count: 250 calories
Net calories: 250 - 25*1.5 = 212.5 + afterburn

Scenario 2:
Walking 3 miles in 60 minutes
Treadmill calorie count: 250 calories
Net calories: 250 - 60*1.5 = 160 + afterburn

Since the afterburn for low intensity activities is a lot less than in high intensity activities, we can see that running 3 miles is going to burn significantly more calories than walking, even though the treadmill will give us the same number.

I was referring to lifting which is inherently an activity that creates an afterburn. Not steady state cardio.

Between the cals burned according to my Polar for my 4 lifting sessions and 2 interval/HIIT type cardio sessions plus my caloric deficit my fat loss has been spot on.

However you use heart rate monitors the fact is you have to correlate your data with your results and adjust according to your goals. There's no way to get an accurate accounting of calories burned even if you wore the device 24/7. Just be consistent in estmating, track your data, correlate with your results, and make adjustments if needed.

[freebirdmac]

Great info! So, would you ever try wearing the thing around the whole day? Have you done that? It's gotta be bothersome, but I think I'd be tempted to try it if I had one. I'm assuming it's generally just worn during a workout...but maybe not?

I wore mine for 24 hours when I first got it out of curiosity. I picked a day off from the gym and cardio just to see how many cals it said I burned in 24 hours. I've thought about doing it again just to see what's changed but haven't done it. I'm not sure the results would even be accurate enough to make an assessment. I primarily use it to keep my heart rate in reasonable territory (I am pushing 50) during cardio, observe improvements in my cardio capability (even during lifts), and to know when I'm really ready for that next set of squats or deads. I can also see by calories burned when I've adjusted too much to a workout routine.