Machine Calorie counting help

Hi

Hoping someone can advise me how accurate the machines are at the gym.  Basically I had been using  a very old step machine at the gym which said in 24mins I burnt 300cals, one day I went down and the machine I normally used was in use so I used the other machine which is exactly the same age etc but it doen't tend to get used as often because its further away, when I used it I set it to the exact same as I would normally do and I found it was really hard, the restistance was alot stiffer and it said at the end that I had only burnt 250cals in 24mins.

I've started using this other machine now instead of the usual easy one but my question is, how accurate are any of the machines should I even believe I am burning off 250cals?? I don't want to eat more thinking that I am burning alot when I'm not because the machines aren't accurate.

Lindsay,

I have had the same experience with different brands of Cross Trainers. One said that I was burning about 10 Calories per minute and the other brand only 4! For thirty minutes of work, it was either 300 calories or 120! Yikes, I hope it is the 300. I consulted some other sources and it seems like the 10 calories per minute is more accurate. 4 calories per minute is more in line with regular walking. There is the Website www.fitwatch.com that seems accurate in the calculation of exercises and their respective calorie burning.

I workout on the one that has the more accurate reading now.

Dr. Gary

Great, thanks for the advise and the link

I was also having this trouble when i purchased my Sole ellitical.  At first i thought it was because of a different brand because the resistance was much stronger than any other's i've used at gyms before.  I'd have it on 1...and be sweating by 20mintues, and burning!  I didn't get why it's read only 70 calories, and frankly i got a little pissed and thought i couldn't be that out of shape.  So I purchased a heart rate monitor and now i dont even pay attention to the meters on the machine.  You get a way better and more accurate reading by your heart rate, and you'll feel a lot better that you are actually burning a heck of a lot more on the machines than what it reads.