Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2012-01-15 6:39 PM

User image

Extreme Veteran
415
100100100100
Subject: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

I use a Garmin forerunner 305 when training/racing. This winter, mainly indoors due to the freezing temps; on the treadmill I will use it for my heartrate monitoring and to keep track of pace per mile, ect. along with using a cadence sensor when on the bike trainer. I can run a 7 min/mile for 5 miles for example outdoors, using the GPS 305 technology and then come home and download all the info. 

I then may run the same 7 min/mile pace for 5 miles on the treadmill and then log that info into the website myfitnesspal.com. (I don't use a Garmin footpod while on treadmill; when I hit a mile mark, I will hit the lap button on the garmin to keep track of each miles pace/heartrate).

I understand that running outdoors is totally different then on the treadmill (wind, non-constant pace, uphill/downhill,ect.).

Using myfitnesspal.com the calories burned running indoors on the treadmill compared to outside using the info from the garmin 305, is very, very drastic. I realize outdoors running may burn more, but which would be more accurate?   The Garmin caloried burned info, or logging my running info into myfitnesspal.com exercise log spreadsheet?

Anyones thoughts?



Edited by tigers75 2012-01-15 6:41 PM

2012-01-15 6:44 PM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Champion
19812
50005000500020002000500100100100
MA
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Best estimate is 100 calories per mile.

Most of the treadmills and exercise  equipment over estimates calories burned.

Maybe Shane will chime in as he has posted some good calculators how to figure out calories burned for s/b/r.

2012-01-15 6:50 PM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Extreme Veteran
415
100100100100
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Oh ya, and i usually don't go by what the treadmill says as far as calories burned. I either use the Garmin info when running outdoors, OR use myfitnesspal.com exercise enter info when running indoors.

I have an older treadmill, so I don't relie on its calorie burned accuraccy, haha.

 

2012-01-15 7:02 PM
in reply to: #3991869

User image

Pro
5755
50005001001002525
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?
KathyG - 2012-01-15 7:44 PM

Best estimate is 100 calories per mile.

Most of the treadmills and exercise  equipment over estimates calories burned.

Maybe Shane will chime in as he has posted some good calculators how to figure out calories burned for s/b/r.

I use this number. It's close enough, and I'd rather underestimate than overestimate how many calories I burned on the treadmill. Other numbers I have seen used are .75xweight=total calories per mile, .63xweight=net calories(total minus basal metabolism). The gym treadmills seem to calculate more like 115 calories per mile.

2012-01-15 7:22 PM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Extreme Veteran
1136
100010025
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Also, it seems that many people have found the 305 calorie count overly optimistic by about 1/3.  I believe the newer Garmin's have a different way of calculating, which is probably more accurate.  My wife's FR110 calorie counter is much lower than what I see on my 305.  One of these days I should try setting it up for my weight etc and go for a run with both watches to see the difference.

I asked this question shortly after I got the 305 when I would return from 50-60 mile rides and have it tell me that I burned 3,000 calories.

2012-01-15 7:25 PM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Expert
839
50010010010025
Anaheim Hills, CA
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?
The calculations for calories on myfitnesspal are way off.  I just use it to keep track of my nutrition.  I calculate my exercise calories manually.

2012-01-15 7:29 PM
in reply to: #3991943

User image

Extreme Veteran
580
500252525
ft. mitchell ,al / columbus ga
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?
wbattaile - 2012-01-15 8:22 PM

Also, it seems that many people have found the 305 calorie count overly optimistic by about 1/3.  I believe the newer Garmin's have a different way of calculating, which is probably more accurate.  My wife's FR110 calorie counter is much lower than what I see on my 305.  One of these days I should try setting it up for my weight etc and go for a run with both watches to see the difference.

I asked this question shortly after I got the 305 when I would return from 50-60 mile rides and have it tell me that I burned 3,000 calories.

 

I'm there with you. after a good 40 mile ride or so i'm burned 2000+ calories. is it acurate I have no clue.

2012-01-16 4:43 AM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Extreme Veteran
633
50010025
The Redlands, QLD, Australia
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

 

My fitness Pal takes into account weight. When it thought I was 220lb it burned 161cpm @12mpm. I changed my weight to 150 and it changed to 108cpm.

2012-01-16 7:18 AM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Expert
758
5001001002525
Port Colborne, Ontario
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Just an FYI - The FR 305 uses distance & time to calc cals burnt, not heart rate.  And also, the cals burnt on myfitnesspal are also way off.

I take my average heart rate and input it in this formula: http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

I use 40 as my VO2max.

That 100 cals/mile average is a little low if you're carrying extra weight like I am.  It's probably good if you are around your race weight.



Edited by RVachon 2012-01-16 7:19 AM
2012-01-16 7:38 AM
in reply to: #3991861

User image

Extreme Veteran
645
50010025
Media, PA
Subject: RE: Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate?

Somewhere I saw (DCRainmaker?) a detailed comparison of how Garmin GPS units calculate calories, down to the model number.

My 310XT seemed to be lower than my Timex Race Trainer HRM (which has weight as part of the profile).  And Myfitnesspal does seem REALLY optomistic on calorie burn; I did a 12 mile run on Saturday; MPF said somewhere around 1400 calories, where Garmin was about 1000.

One thing I've noticed over the last year or so, calories seem to be coming down for me over the same distance; weight hasn't changed much, so I guess that means heart rate is coming down.  I need to look at this closer...

So I go with the Garmin numbers for MFP, figure it's better to go on the low side when tracking calories for weight maintenance/loss.

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Myfitnesspal.com OR GARMIN..Which is accurate? Rss Feed