Just how wrong are the calorie counters on precor/ellipticals?

Just curioius...When I work out for 60 minutes at around 220rev/min, it says I burn 600-650 cal. I don't believe it. What is a better estimate?

Depends on your size - if you entered at least your weight into the machine, and the machine is new/been calibrated recently, it might be semi-close, but probably still too high. If you don't want to trust it, use the CC exercise logging tool - estimate your average speed and plug it in.

When I use my Polar heart rate monitor, which is supposed to be pretty accurate, it shows 100-200 calories less burned per 30-45 minute workout than the Precor elliptical's figures.  That was a real eye-opener!

Thanks for the input!

 Typically, with good calibration they can be pretty accurate. That's an important qualifier though, most gym equipment haven't been properly calibrated since installation and will tend to over-estimate your burn by 25%-35% according to a couple articles I read last year.

I have a running theory that people are improperly using the precor ellipticals which causes the calorie count discrepancy... just about 100% of the people I've seen bounce up and down on the machine like they're on a stepping machine. I think the calorie count is calibrated to be if you're minimizing that bouncing motion and your heels do not or barely leave the footpads at all.

The precor is supposed to be a low impact machine on your legs/knees which also leads me to believe that you're supposed to try to keep your heels planted and not bounce. If you do the exercise in such a fashion it suddenly becomes much more strenuous and makes the calorie count seem much more accurate.

Original Post by degnik:

I have a running theory that people are improperly using the precor ellipticals which causes the calorie count discrepancy... just about 100% of the people I've seen bounce up and down on the machine like they're on a stepping machine. I think the calorie count is calibrated to be if you're minimizing that bouncing motion and your heels do not or barely leave the footpads at all.

The precor is supposed to be a low impact machine on your legs/knees which also leads me to believe that you're supposed to try to keep your heels planted and not bounce. If you do the exercise in such a fashion it suddenly becomes much more strenuous and makes the calorie count seem much more accurate.

Is this true? I've never heard that before.

No idea but it is apparent that the calorie counters are off a fairly decent amount. And using the fact that precor machines are supposed to be low impact on knees if properly used suggesting that they're designed to be used in such a fashion where your feet don't leave the foot-pads at all so there is no impacts from foot-falls.

Eitherway next time you use precor try to keep your feet firmly connected to the foot-pads at all time, no lifiting of the heel. You'll find that you can really feel your muscles in your legs start to get tired after a bit of excercise (probably matches the 4 light-up leg-muscle zones the precor machine shows for different inclines of the tracks).