View Full Version : Tread Mill setting question


GRCRYSTYK
October 4th, 2007, 08:17 PM
Not sure I understand this,..Actually I don't. I apologize if this is the wrong place to post this question, but figured this might be a question others had as well,...

I was doing a little checking for a coworker, and what I ran into puzzles me. I have been using my treadmill for the past couple years. Set it up to my parameters, and haven't changed it much, as far as that goes. This coworker, is a good deal heavier than I, and has been telling me how many calories he has been burning while a a gym, on their equipment. It sounded a little out of whack, so I decided to set my machine up, as if he was using it,and input his specs. He is taller,and 110lbs heavier than I.

When I use his settings, the calorie count goes WAY WAY down, in comparison to what my settings record. Same levels and time. I mean WAY! down. Say at a specific setting, my specs will show say, 485 cals an hour,...At his settings, it will show 49 cals an hour.

What the heck?

Thanks all,....>>>--->

goonie
October 5th, 2007, 02:09 AM
I'd say the computer/display output on your treadmill is fooked. Someone that is 110 lbs heavier than you is going to require a lot more energy to travel an equal distance at an equal pace.

Were you originally questioning his numbers because they seemed too high or too low? Either way, without more specific calibration beyond height/weight/age, I wouldn't put much stock in the calorie output from cardio equipment.

Ta2d
October 5th, 2007, 10:37 AM
As mentioned above, I recommend not paying attention to calorie counters that are built into fitness equipment unless they are the type that require to to wear a heart monitor strap for "zone" training. This would be the most accurate way to track calories burned during a given activity. My advise if you don't have access to one of these is to purchase a Polar Heart Monitor.

HevyMetal
October 5th, 2007, 04:25 PM
Sure it's the right setting for cals?

my eliptical has 2 calorie burn parameters...

If I set it to #1 it shows something like:- 50 min @ setting #8 = 700 caloreis an hour etc.

But setting #2 is FAT calories....so it will say something like 50 min @ setting #8 = 79 fat calories an hour etc. etc.

How the hell it determines a fat calorie from any other calorie I have yet to figure out..:)

GRCRYSTYK
October 5th, 2007, 06:12 PM
Thanks for the input guys,..I thought the question might be misunderstood,..I don't think the counter if very accurate at all. I realize these counters are just simple devices, much like scales, as in, each one is a bit different, and there is no way they can tell who is on the machine. We are all different. They are in my opinion, a simple tool to help you gauge your workouts,..One session from the next. Nothing very accurate at all,...

The question, was why when adding better than 100lbs to the settings, did the cals per hour go down? My first thoughts were,.."It's screwed up", but when I have used equipment in other locations, using my settings, I have always come out pretty close to what I get at home. So I'm puzzled,...

Any ideas, other than the machine is whacked? By the way, which could very well be the case. I have not had very good luck with this machine at all,...Not happy with it to say the least. Anybody interested in that story can PM me, and I will fill you in.

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