Comments on: Question of the Week: Are your gadgets getting in the way? http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/ Daily writings about fitness, diet, and health Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:45:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mr Jim http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-161332 Mr Jim Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:08:00 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-161332 <p>I don't know much about treadmills, but i'd imagine that running on a treadmill is easier than running on real ground because the treadmill is putting energy into your stride. When you put your foot down, your foot is carried by the belt therefore you're not really pushing yourself forward so the machine is doing some of the work. You're essentially jogging on the spot whilst the ground is moving underneath you. The treadmill is probably more accurate because it was the only device that knew that you were running on a treadmill, so it would have been calibrated specifically for treadmill running.</p> I don’t know much about treadmills, but i’d imagine that running on a treadmill is easier than running on real ground because the treadmill is putting energy into your stride. When you put your foot down, your foot is carried by the belt therefore you’re not really pushing yourself forward so the machine is doing some of the work. You’re essentially jogging on the spot whilst the ground is moving underneath you. The treadmill is probably more accurate because it was the only device that knew that you were running on a treadmill, so it would have been calibrated specifically for treadmill running.

]]> By: Crabby McSlacker http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-123546 Crabby McSlacker Wed, 22 Aug 2007 11:31:26 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-123546 <p>Wow, all you folks are tracking calories much more carefully than I do!</p> <p>I use a heartrate monitor, especially for interval work so I don't accidentally kill myself, but I don't think for me I gain much by getting really specific about calorie expenditure.</p> <p>I know the pace I generally run or walk at, and approximately how many calories I want to burn a day with exercise, so I always shoot for that or a little over. but if I'm within 100 either way I don't lose much sleep over it.</p> <p>But then I lost my weight about ten years ago and am mostly trying to make sure I don't gain it back. So perhaps my goals are different and my calculations don't have to be too precise.</p> <p>I do think, however, that most machines tend to overestimate because that's what consumers want!</p> Wow, all you folks are tracking calories much more carefully than I do!

I use a heartrate monitor, especially for interval work so I don’t accidentally kill myself, but I don’t think for me I gain much by getting really specific about calorie expenditure.

I know the pace I generally run or walk at, and approximately how many calories I want to burn a day with exercise, so I always shoot for that or a little over. but if I’m within 100 either way I don’t lose much sleep over it.

But then I lost my weight about ten years ago and am mostly trying to make sure I don’t gain it back. So perhaps my goals are different and my calculations don’t have to be too precise.

I do think, however, that most machines tend to overestimate because that’s what consumers want!

]]> By: Procellous http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120403 Procellous Tue, 31 Jul 2007 13:21:36 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120403 <p>I have the same issue. However, I have been told that the Nike+ is not that accurate on a treadmill. It works my sensing when your foot falls on the ground. The vibration of the treadmill can cause it to over estimate. How did the distance compare?</p> <p>When street running I use the Nike+ and a Polar HRM. I run according to my Heart Rate. The Nike+ is more for a summary of the run afterwards.</p> <p>I do know what you mean though - it takes me 15 minutes to get wired up for a run!</p> I have the same issue. However, I have been told that the Nike+ is not that accurate on a treadmill. It works my sensing when your foot falls on the ground. The vibration of the treadmill can cause it to over estimate. How did the distance compare?

When street running I use the Nike+ and a Polar HRM. I run according to my Heart Rate. The Nike+ is more for a summary of the run afterwards.

I do know what you mean though – it takes me 15 minutes to get wired up for a run!

]]> By: iportion http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120342 iportion Tue, 31 Jul 2007 01:40:41 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120342 <p>HRMS and gym treadmills often over estimate they are only guessing your burn so I’d go with whatever the lower number is. My old hrm said I burned over 1,000 calories while sleeping.</p> HRMS and gym treadmills often over estimate they are only guessing your burn so I’d go with whatever the lower number is. My old hrm said I burned over 1,000 calories while sleeping.

]]> By: shinypenny http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120320 shinypenny Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:17:26 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120320 <p>Not related to this post (I'd go with the HRM - Nike+ and the treadmill are using generalized equations to calculate calories burned), but this is related to the Nike+ system. Someone finally put together a <a href="http://shinypenny.runnerplus.com/ ">non-Nike site</a> where you can upload your runs and get pretty graphs of your data. They also have a <a href="http://www.runnerplus.com/blog/2007/06/run-manager-updated.asp">run editor</a> in case you're like me and screw up by prematurely ending a run. It's pretty cool. Sort of like LiveJournal (you can have "friends") plus Nike+.</p> Not related to this post (I’d go with the HRM – Nike+ and the treadmill are using generalized equations to calculate calories burned), but this is related to the Nike+ system. Someone finally put together a non-Nike site where you can upload your runs and get pretty graphs of your data. They also have a run editor in case you’re like me and screw up by prematurely ending a run. It’s pretty cool. Sort of like LiveJournal (you can have “friends”) plus Nike+.

]]> By: Mary http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120314 Mary Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:12:59 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120314 <p>I am with you, Sandy. I don't trust the treadmill at the gym for calories burned because I know my Nike + is calibrated to my weight. The difference between the heart rate monitor and the Nike + is not significant. Rounded off they both would equal 500 calories. Stick with one measure and sprinkle in a little common sense. </p> <p>Keep it Simple</p> <p>Mary :-)</p> I am with you, Sandy. I don’t trust the treadmill at the gym for calories burned because I know my Nike + is calibrated to my weight. The difference between the heart rate monitor and the Nike + is not significant. Rounded off they both would equal 500 calories. Stick with one measure and sprinkle in a little common sense.

Keep it Simple

Mary :-)

]]> By: Sandy http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120284 Sandy Mon, 30 Jul 2007 16:01:03 +0000 http://www.starling-fitness.com/archives/2007/07/30/question-of-the-week-are-your-gadgets-getting-in-the-way/#comment-120284 <p>Laura, What I do is use 1 level of measure. Like if you have a scale that is off by 5#'s if you always use the same scale, your weight loss will be consistent. The key is not a bunch of gadgets, just pick one and be consistant with it's use. I even use the same treadmill, elliptical, stair machine, etc at the gym so that my stats are consistant with that machine. Simplify is my motto. Sandy</p> Laura, What I do is use 1 level of measure. Like if you have a scale that is off by 5#’s if you always use the same scale, your weight loss will be consistent. The key is not a bunch of gadgets, just pick one and be consistant with it’s use.
I even use the same treadmill, elliptical, stair machine, etc at the gym so that my stats are consistant with that machine.
Simplify is my motto.
Sandy

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