Calories Burned on Elliptical

Hi everyone,

So I do an hour every day on the elliptical.  The elliptical I use is the Precore EFX 546 model.  I program in my weight (105lb) and at the end of my workout I've gone between 11.5 and 12 miles and the machine says I've burned about 870 calories.  However, on cc, it tells me my calorie burn on the elliptical for 1 hour at a virgourous pace is 566 calories.

However, I'm wondering what is counted as a vigorous pace.  I go 11.5 + mph, most people probably do 3-4 mph.  I've been told be numerous people that they have never seen someone workout at such a fast pace on the elliptical.

I'm 5'1", 104 lbs, 21 years old and female.  Is it possible that I burn almost 900 calories in this workout? 

Thanks.

-Kat

I don't know which is right - cc+ or the elliptical.

However, can you up the level (intensity) on your elliptical? I find that is more effective for me than going faster (I typically am going between 6-7mph, started at level 8, now up to level 11, on random).

 

I also have no idea on the intensity etc of your elliptical but if you were burning 870 cals that would be 15 cals a minute. Based on your weight I think it's highly unlikely. I weigh 149 and for me to burn 15 cals a minute I am DYING and can't keep up the pace.... (and I'm pretty fit). Since you weigh 50 lbs less my sniff test says NO but maybe try a heart monitor?

See, I don't think you guys understand how intensely I workout on this thing.  I pretty much am dying by the end of my workout.  11.5 mph is really fast.  Like I said, people are literally amazed at my pace.  I also run at 7.5 mph for 1/2 hour at a max incline of 6, minimum incline of 1.  I can run at this pace and incline for 1 hour with no problem.

I'm thinking cc probably thinks a fast pace is around 8 mph since I have never seen anyone besides myself go much faster than that.  There is a site where you can calculate the calories you burn on the Precor EFX by entering your strides per minute.  However, the strides per minute number only goes up to somewhere around 180.  I am somewhere above 300 strides per minute (I probably average around 320), so I can't even calculate my calorie burn.  The term "vigorous effort" is just so vague.  I wish they would define exactly what that means, you know?

Thanks for the help.

-Kat

I have wondered this also!! Im not sure if the eliptical is right for me either, because Im 145 pounds (5'7) and work out for 30 minutes on the elliptical and it tells me that I have burned 450 when im done. I enter my weight and age into the machine so im hoping that it gives me the right amount of calories burned, but it seems like a lot. I go pretty fast too..not sure of the mph..but it usually says 200+ rpm. I don't usually hold on to the handles, but when I do it tracks my heart rate and its usually 160+..anyways..i guess im wondering the same thing as you..can i really be burning this much?? I hope so!

Probably not. You need a heart rate monitor to get a more accurate calorie burn. When I do an hour on the elliptical I burn 500 calories and I weight 118, I'm 5/2. So, since I weight more than you, I would burn more calories than you would. I also go at a rigorous pace. But, I do intervals. I would say, the most if you maintain that pace the entire time would be no more than 600 calories. I would purchase a good heart rate monitor.

I have the same problem and I have settled on just believing what the elliptical says since I am able to enter in my height, weight, age and gender. It also monitors my heart rate when I hold on to the handle bars. If the machine you use allows you to do the same thing then I say believe that and not c-c.

In my opinion, c-c has their own version of "vigorous" and your pace could be higher. For example, an hour for me here on that mode says I burn 653 calories but the most I was able to do on the machine I use was 700 in 30 minutes. Prior to my weightloss and just starting out on the elliptical I actually burned as many calories as c-c said I would on their modes. But  now that I have increased the intensity a lot more it makes sense that I would burn more than what it says here.

To be safe what I have done is believed what the machine says and eat a little over my matinence. If I slowly start drop weight then I know its correct because of my deficit and if I don't and actually gain then the machine is wrong (since i am eating more than i burn). Maybe you can try that as well to see if you are burning that much.

I think the elliptcal machines are really close to accurate.  I say this because I have increased the level every week since I started using it (feb 1st) and it seems to keep track exactly for the difference in the level and my weight....considering how much more I feel I work at the higher levels.  I would go with what te elliptcal says.