Weight Watcher's Thread

[potsy]

 

[Rob3rt]

What is accurate enough? An arbitrary value choosen by the author?

Since I am doubtful you are getting my point, or understanding the basis of that abstract. They have fitted a model (like that equation you quoted previously) to a certain group (how they have done so, I do not know, as I haven't read the whole paper, there are many ways of fitting models to data), doing a certain activity under certain conditions.

That is what I referred to above, you can do it, if you fit a model to some data, just like those seemingly arbitrary values in the equation you linked are likely fitting parameters to fit the equation to some data collected for a group doing a certain activity. BUT the crux of the issue is that one model is not usually very good for more than one scenario, especially empirical models, change the activity and you have to change the fitting parameters or reformulate altogether in some cases. To get accurate data from your HRM, the HRM must use a model that approximates based on a given activity, otherwise it will more than likely be way off.

Where do they show that calorie consumption between various activities can be estimated accurately using the same model?

 

[Paul99]

Does anybody know how many calories you burn while cycling?

 

[GBC]

Does anybody know how many calories you burn while cycling?

I think it's about 50 per mile, more or less

 

[potsy]

 

[ColinJ]

That is not what I meant, if the work your legs are doing increases (uphill, wind) or decreases (downhill) the HR will respond, the HRM will detect this. It knows when you are working harder or less so (subject to error introduced by stress, caffeine consumption, temperature etc).

D'oh! I was a bit distracted ...

(I was thinking of the stupid calorie meter on my gym bike which works purely on the pedalling speed and gives the same reading with the friction brake released as it would with the brake tightened up to max!)

Okay, I'll give an example of how useless heart rate can be as an indicator of how hard you are working ...

Since my veins and arteries got bunged up with clots, I can get my pulse rate up to about 150 bpm if I just think hard about cycling! That's not a figure of speech and it isn't an exaggeration. I can literally get out of breath just remembering riding up steep hills, and yet I am sitting down doing nothing, barely burning any extra calories at all.

 

[Sittingduck]

It's a gain! Lost the plot a bit Yesterday and this morning I was 13st 10 / 87.1 Kg.
I'll get back to business and check in again on Weds or Thursday morning. Should be back on track after this minor 'blip', ugh...

Ok - back on track, so far this week...
Todays update is: 13st 5.6lbs / 85.1 Kg

Target for next Monday is: 13st 4lbs / 84.4 Kg

 

[doctornige]

Calorie consumption from machines and GPS is 'ballpark' accurate. I have only ever seen one accurate device, at it was a walk-in freezer converted to a bedroom and calorimeter at the Human Nutrition Unit at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, and that setup is not much good for the average punter.

I find that I know how many calories I need to put on my Garmin to make a dent in my food intake, and it is about 800.

 

[Biscuit]

This ^ +1

 

[andylaw79]

Did my weigh-in a day early this week and I've broken 19st and dropped another 2lb, now down to 18st 13lb. Still adjusting to getting portion sizes right and not leaving myself feeling hungry but I chuffed everything is going in the right direction so far. Only trouble this weekend I've got a 40th to go to, so the aim is to not drink too much and undo this weeks good work.

 

[Becs]

wahoo, another 2 pounds down - 12 pounds for January. Looks like a lovely day for a muddy run too

 

[potsy]

2lbs off this week, 11lb in total now

 

[Sittingduck]

*sniff*
I'm going to change my weekly weigh-in day from Monday to Weds or Thurs. Monday isn't a good day for a 'true' measure, because I tend to do long rides at the weekend and blow out on calories afterwards. I'll be back to update, later this week after a few days of clean livin'.

 

[Becs]

speaking of blow outs this pizza tastes soooo good after a hilly 5 mile run!

 

[Sittingduck]

I know that Monday mornings, I sometimes weight a good 4 lbs heavier than on the following days - due to water weight from wrong food choices on a Sunday. I tend to find that I am back to my proper weight around midweek
I am still shooting fof 13st 4lbs this week and will post up on Weds, with the result.

Good luck everybody!