Cal Counters on Equipment

Gumbyman

Hi there,

Just wondering how accurate are the calorie counters on gym equipment? How do they base their calculations? I went pretty heavy on the exercise bike this morning for ten minutes warm up and did 5.5k on a fairly hard setting and burned off about 140 kcals (70kg weight). I would have thought that this would burn off more than a pot of yogurt. Am I just overly optimistic?

Thanks,
Gumby.

rubadub

That is 840kcal per hour, which is optimistic. They are all averages. If you swing your arms wildly on a treadmill it burns more but the machine has no way to detect it.

A better calculator will ask for age/weight/sex/height etc, all estimates, just try and beat your last "number" the next time

WHIP IT!

rubadub wrote: »

That is 840kcal per hour, which is optimistic. They are all averages. If you swing your arms wildly on a treadmill it burns more but the machine has no way to detect it.

A better calculator will ask for age/weight/sex/height etc, all estimates, just try and beat your last "number" the next time

This is weird... Several times in the last few weeks, small fitness-related queries have popped into my head and I've thought to myself "Hmmm, must check that out on boards..." and then someone beats me to it by only a matter of hours...

I was wondering about the calories thingys on gym equipment on Tuesday when I apparently burned 145 calories in my ten-minute warm-up on the cross-trainer!

This is happening alot - get out of my head boards!!

Gumbyman

Haha! It's just like the Truman Show.

Thanks for the info Rubadub. And thanks again for introducing me to cold porridge. The breakfast of champions! (And me)

Khannie

Gumbyman wrote: »

And thanks again for introducing me to cold porridge.

What's this now? Cold ready brek is lovely....but cold porridge? cold water + oats? Is that it? Or is there milk involved?

Glenman

Those cal counters are very disheartening, you bust your ass for 15-20 min and you’ve only burnt the calories in a biscuit

rubadub

Khannie wrote: »

cold water + oats? Is that it? Or is there milk involved?

Yes, milk! water would be vile I bet. I put a little honey or maple syrup in too sometimes, if using honey put honey in and a tiny drop of milk, stir it up and then add a little more- otherwise it is just a lump of undisolved honey.

I like it freezing cold, but these cold mornings might get me back on the hot porridge, great in the summer though.

Gumbyman

I've been adding some shrivelled apricots this week and a fistfull of cornflakes. The possibilities are endless.

Tip: no matter how nice the idea sounds, don't add chilli flakes or tobasco sauce.

Vegeta

Khannie wrote: »

Cold ready brek is lovely....but cold porridge?

Finally someone else that can appreciate the beauty that is cold ready brek, its bloody delicious (not that I've had it in ages)

Everyone in college thought I was a freak when I used to eat this

WHIP IT!

Gumbyman wrote: »

Tip: no matter how nice the idea sounds, don't add chilli flakes or tobasco sauce.

I think it's safe enough to say this warning wasn't necessary... Jebus Gumby - what were you thinking??

Gumbyman

Hahaha. I'm a pioneer of spicey food. It is only through gargantuous fcuk ups like this that momentous dishes are created.

So far the score is
Gargantuous Fcuk Ups: 38,987
Momentous Dishes: Nil.

rubadub

WHIP IT! wrote: »

I think it's safe enough to say this warning wasn't necessary... Jebus Gumby - what were you thinking??

Some poster the other day was putting garlic in theirs!

Gumbyman

That's just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

WHIP IT!

Gumbyman wrote: »

That's just wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

Hello Pot, meet my friend; Kettle...