Are the machines reliable for counting calories used?

[BookWormJoy 7]

I'm wondering how accurate the elliptical and treadmill machines are at counting the calories spent while working out when you input your weight.

Is there a better way to determine how many calories we burn?

How do you calculate how many calories you use during workouts?

[DonRodolfo 1,416]

Is there a better way to determine how many calories we burn?

How do you calculate how many calories you use during workouts?

Heart rate monitor - I use a Polar Wearlink + that talks to an app on my smartphone which displays current heart rate, calories burned, avg calories burned per min, and other stats.

[Butterthebean 8,146]

From what I've seen, all the machines way over estimate calories burned. A good HR monitor is your best bet.

[aroundhky 1,174]

Yep, I'm pretty sure most, if not all, over estimate as well. Some probably way over estimate in my opinion.

[rdt210 82]

I agree that the machines overestimate, but not nearly as much as My Fitness Pal does!

[cathycnyrs 85]

I have a bodymedia fit and they claim they are 90% accurate. I find the machines are lower than the bodymedia fit says, but that is for me at a really high weight right now. If I was at a goal weight it might be the other way around.

[Poolguard 55]

I have yet to see that these numbers are as low as they should be. They all seem to overestimate.