Elliptical - Actual calorie burn?

[Bandster25 0]

Hello, I tried posting this question in the general discussion yesterday, but I guess I should have posted it here. So I am re-posting in case anyone who has experience didn't see it yesterday. Thanks for your help.

Does anyone have a good idea of about how many calories you can burn in an hour on the elliptical? I know the machines tend to overestimate by a lot...I don't have a pulse rate monitor. Also, I use the one where you don't move your arms.

If the machine says 750 calories in 60 minutes of intervals, do you guys think I can safely count 500 calories burned?

[lapbandgirl2009 0]

No you can safely say 750 they are usually accurate. But 500 would be a safe guesstimate.

[Bandster25 0]

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking that since the machine doesn't take into account male vs. female, that it would tend to overestimate for females and possibly underestimate for males. Is this true? I guess it should be reasonably accurate, though, and even if I am not burning quite as many calories as it says, it's still very beneficial.

[lapbandgirl2009 0]

Your Welcome! I do the elliptical for one hour and burn anywhere from 800-850 sometime more it does depends on the speed and what type of model. When you get on do you select a program cause when I do it I enter my weight and age and program and it monitors my heart rate.

[Bandster25 0]

Yeah, I choose the interval program for 60 minutes. It alternates between two intensities with two minutes at each one. I enter my age and weight when I start. I get pretty sweaty by the end of it. I was just reading that inexperienced exercisers usually burn about 4-5 calories a minute while you can burn about 10-12 calories per minute when you're really in shape. If this is true, and I'm burning like 5 calories per minute, that would only be 300 calories for 60 minutes.:crying:

[lapbandgirl2009 0]

It doesn't calculate male or female I mean some models do but not most of the ones at gyms and apartment complex are the standard for both.

[lapbandgirl2009 0]

I was at a plateau for almost one month and didn't lose anything and I am now back on track with my last fill and feel better restriction so I hope I get to losing again soon!!!. I have had to modify my workout a little as well cause my doctor told me that could be a factor too when doing the same your body gets used to it and doesn't burn as much. You have done awesome with your weight loss what are your tips for newbies like me? How many time do you eat day and what is your calorie intake?

[Bandster25 0]

You have done well so far, especially since you didn't lose weight for a month. I also didn't lose any weight for a while. I was at 200 pounds for a few months because I was off track. To do well I find that I have to eat 3 times a day and really focus on Protein. I generally try to eat about 1000 calories each day. I can include some carbs with meals like a sandwich with bread or meat with a carb, but I have to stay away from simple carbs and snack type foods. Now I completely avoid chips, ice cream, Cookies, and other simple carb foods because if I eat them at all I just want more. I also try to get around 60 grams of protein each day, and I am finding that it really helps me stay full for longer. I recently started keeping track of my calories, protein, and exercise each day, and writing it down helps me stay accountable. It's hard work, and some days will be better than others, but the important thing is to get right back on track when you have a bad day. Have you found any helpful tricks so far?

[Jachut 487]

They are notoriously inaccurate - and its logical. You can burn 750 calories in an hour of running about 10kms, there's no way you are as tired after an hour on an elliptical as you are actually running and moving your body weight along the ground.

I'd think that 500 calories would be a safe guestimate as you're not actually moving anywhere and you dont have to leave the ground, that cuts the calorie burn considerably.

[dmmurray 0]

The machine used to tell me I was burning between 500 to 600 calories for 30 minutes. Boy was I surprised when I purchased my gowearfit armband and realized that I was only burning 200 calories and yes I was totally soaked in sweat. When I completed the body fat test (got tanked) the printout I received gave some example of how many calories I burn while completing different exercises and it said the same for the elliptical trainer as the armband did.

[pnksteph 0]

I wondered the same thing about the elliptical and other cardio machines at the gym so I asked one of the gym staff members and they said they are inaccurate. They recommended a heart rate/cardio monitor watch that would more accurately tell me what I was burning. That 750 calories that I thought I was burning was actually more along the lines of 450. The one I bought was from a sporting goods store and you put in your height, weight, activity level and such so it gages a better picture of what you are burning. I love mine! Good luck and keep up the work outs!

[Jenai 0]

I use a polar heart rate monitor when I use the elliptical. The heart rate monitor uses data of gender, age, height, weight and continuous heart rate. It comes in really close to what the elliptical states I burned. I guess it just depends on the type of elliptical we are using on how accurate it is.