Weight / Fat loss

Are the "calories burned" numbers on gym machines like the elliptical or rower complete rubbish?

Along with not eating a chocolate bar & packet of crisps with my lunch every day I've been going to the gym for the last couple of months in order to burn a bit of fat & tone my body up - all is working fine & body is certainly thinner/more toned but inevitably I've started reading online about workouts and calories end up being bought into the conversation all the time.

I normally do 2k on the rower to start as it's many muscle groups & cardio too for warm up - it says I burn ~150 calories to do it, by this point I'm a sweaty mess, similar if not worse than I am after a long climb on the bike (similar perceived effort too).

Today the rowers were all busy so I thought I'd give the elliptical machines a go - I've never used them before so I just did a similar amount of time as I would on the rower & hoped it'd do for warm up but wasn't really trying very hard as it's Friday & I was a bit sleepy to start with etc... At the end it said I'd burned ~110 calories.

This strikes me as odd as I was hardly even breathing faster & didn't feel any muscle fatigue at all - am I completely missing the point about calories or are one/both of the machine lying to me?

Are the "calories burned" numbers on gym machines like the elliptical or rower complete rubbish?

Yes. Were you using the HR monitor? They use an algorithm based on your HR if it's available, and a bunch of generalised assumptions about the sort of people who might be using a machine. It's about as useful as you can imagine.

You can work out a rough calculation if you know your average HR and/or VO2 max for the session, but even that won't be completely accurate. Probably a bit closer to reality than the estimation of the machines, though. http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

Ok thanks for that - it had a HRM on the elliptical which seemed to be working but the concept-2 rowers don't have them.

I've got one at home though so will use that with the website you've linked to.

Not that it really matters as the fat is shifting anyway & no amount of calories are going to stop me from having a beer or two tonight - it's just nice to know isn't it...

Just don't fall into the trap of thinking "oh I've burned this much extra so I can treat myself to extra x"

I would like a rowing machine. It would unfortunately require I purchase a new house first.

A rowboat is probably cheaper.

Ha - yes that is always an issue!

@hippy - the rowing machines have been a revelation to me, never used one before this year but they really feel like they've worked lots of your muscles & easily measurable improvements are quite rewarding (if you enjoy seeing yourself improve).

I ended up buying one of these after I decided a rowing machine would take up a full room. http://www.concept2.co.uk/skierg It can wall mount so doesn't take up that much space and gives a similar kind of knackering workout.

I've used one once or twice at the gym and got into it. Lots of back and upper body which made for a nice contrast to all the cycling I do and yes, it has speeds and distances and power and all those fun things we like to try to improve on all the time.

I prefer the rowing..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTIYQ2PO-XQ

Given the sheer size of a decent rowing machine I think using them at the gym is the best solution, unless you have either a pretty big house or an outbuilding you could put one in.

At some stage I will have a bigger house. It will then be filled with shit like this.

I've been off here for ages, put on a bit of weight post wedding during the winter while not climbing or riding as much. As if there weren't enough activity trackers out there already I've just started using the Ukclimbing.com diary as I can log all my routes, indoor climbing and bouldering accurately as well as other exercise. Not as fancy as some trackers but does the job for me.
Ukclimbing activity diary
Just started using it today and added this weeks runs and the last few push/pull/squat/situp app sessions and the honeymoon climbs. Not gonna go backdating but will try and keep it up to date from now.

Does anyone have a meal planner type thing going around I can get a copy of? I've put on a stone in the past 6 months so need to shift that plus the previous half stone of "comfort" weight from last year.

The other thing would it be better to ride home harder and faster (5 miles) or do a ten miler back home at the steady pace.

My fitness pal has made me much more aware of my portion control (or lack of it). Keeping track of what I am consuming and learning that having a normal not gluttonous amount has really helped.

As I understand it you will burn pretty much the same calories if you do 10 miles slowly or quickly. Riding faster may enable you to travel further in the available time and thus expend more calories per hour.

Have succumbed to the idea of another month off the booze starting 25th April. This combined with a reinforced resolve against snacking should see me get back on track.

Sit on arse in office for week, lose 2kg
Ride 300k audax, put on 2kg
FML.

I gave up being on any kind of diet and going to work (and, in fact, leaving the house almost entirely) for the whole of March and I've only put on 2lbs.

Got home for easter, both my sister and mother think I look like I've lost weight! Result. The scales can do one, this is what I wanted!

Stopped taking creatine and watching my food intake more closely last week, 1kg down already, I know this is all water, but its a great way of feeling motivated!

Why are you taking creatine?

I find it allows me to push harder in training sessions, particularly as the winter has involved a lot of strength and speed building work particularly as all of my training last year was slow and steady and had taken away some of my top end speed.

and I figure when I'm not racing it doesn't bother me if I'm carrying a bit of extra weight, its like training wheels...

When I first considered trying it last winter I did a bit of reading on the subject and typically found a mixed bag of it will help/it wont help/it'll kill you/its the best thing ever.

The study below is the one I liked best:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23392621
http://jlongrc.hubpages.com/hub/Creatine-is-useful-for-runners-endurance-athletes

Not just about the calories burned during the exercise; part of the benefit of HIIT is the elevated calorie burn rate long after after you stop the exercise and the appetite surpression it can generate.

have never noticed this mythical post exercise appetite suppression, my appetite is on, all the time!

Has anyone else measured their body dimensions and been surprised by the disparity between left and right sides, particularly the legs?