Maybe one of you can explain this to me:

Annabelle2

Annabelle2

Cathlete
I weigh 125 lbs, I am 5'2" tall and 46 years old. I am intensity junkie, when I workout I work my behind off, I go at it as hard as I can. When I was really heavy I burned a lot of calories when I worked out and now, well, I did Bootcamp the other day and my HRM said I only burned 200 calories.

Here is my question. I have a lot more muscle now and it takes more calories to move muscle - how does my HRM know how much muscle I have? Is it really correct or am I maybe burning more than it says?

I did Step, Jump and Pump yesterday using heavy weights and only burned 270 according to the HRM.

I also eat clean, I follow the Zone but I am trying to get to 118, I eat roughly 1400 to 2000 calories a day, if I go lower than that or do not have my 2000 calorie days a couple of times a week I am starving for protein all day long any suggestions on the best way to take off the last 7 lbs?

Sorry, I guess this is really two questions in one!
 
I don't know that answer to your question, but I did put your info into www.caloriesperhour.com and came up with over 400 calories burned for your height, weight and age doing SPJ using both a step only calculation for 60 min. and a circuit training activity for 60 min. Both had you in the 450 range for burning calories. I really like this site the man who set it up did alot of research on what formula to use to figure out how many calories we burn doing a variety of activities. Check out the site.

As for taking off the last 7 pounds try cutting out carbs, that will really take the weight off fast. I am not sure with the Zone diet if you eat carbs or not, but it is worth a try. And you will be able to eat more protein also.

Happy Easter!!!:)
 
HI Kathy, can't answer about that last 7 pounds...I'm still wondering about that for myself, but the one thing that I've noticed about my HRM is that sometimes it stops recording. I'll look down at my wrist and see 00 instead of a heart rate. I don't believe it records when it has 00. I haven't figured out exactly what I do that causes it to do that...someone once said getting too close to an electronic device like the TV...and sometimes I think it's because when I move a certain way the contact with my skin loosens just enough to stop it... I know that I am 5'3", am 48, weigh 131 and the last time I did Bootcamp I burned around 400 calories.
 
Blimey! According to that site, I burn 501 calories doing Powermax!!!!

To original poster: I fear you are restricting calories too much. Yiu say when you work out you go all out. I believe you. You speak with force and conviction. It strikes me that less than 2000 calories per day would not be enough to maintain your healthy body weight or even weight loss considering your daily gruelling Cathe habit! Cutting carbs when carbs are the main source of muscle glycogen to fuel your workouts seems not to be prudent to me. I would suggest upping calories because if your body thinks it is facing starvation, it will not let go of the last 7 pounds you say you wish to lose.

Relax a little. Eat to replenish your muscles and body after your hard workouts. Enjoy your food, you deserve it, and maybe the weight will just take care of itself.....

Clare
 
My question is why are you trying to get to 118 pounds? Is that some magic number? I wouldn't worry about the scale in your situation. It sounds like you are in great shape and actually if you have more muscle on your frame you may be heavier scale-wise at a given size than you would be with less muscle. Remember that muscle weighs more than fat.
Also, take those HR numbers with a grain of salt. Other than your pure heartrate number I believe that calories burned and things like that are very rough estimates at best.
Trevor :)
 
Thank you all for your answers -- I am going to check out that site.

The number 118 is a weight that the doctor set for me when I started losing weight, I started at 202. I have been in a plateau or struggling to get to it for the last 6 months. I have some pudge in the middle stomach and upper thigh area so I am thinking that if I get it off that will be where it comes from everywhere else is pretty much lean muscle from what I can tell by looking at myself. so it really doesn't have to be 118 but the pudge needs to be gone and it was my first long term goal, I would hate to not achieve it. (Sounds strange I know but it drives me crazy to not achieve one)

I hadn't thought about eating more, that gives me something to think about. It is strange that I eat way more now than I did when I was heavy - it is a mystery in a way!

Again thank you all for responding!
 
Hi, Kathy! Calories burned can be very tricky because they need to take into account weight, height, body composition and even body frame. Those HRM's rarely account for all of it so they can be somewhat inaccurate. You started a 202 and are at 125! What an accomplishment! The thing is, the lighter you get the less calories you are going to burn and that's perfectly appropriate. It requires less effort to carry around 125 pounds than it does 202. Focusing on the length and intensity of your workout is sometimes better than looking at the calories burned. I found a calculator which allows you to compare your calories burned through various activities to walking. The most important thing is to have a realistic idea of how much you can and should weigh, how much energy you can and should expend at that weight. Here's the calculator: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/fcs/heart/hhb5-8.html
Bobbi http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/chicken.gif "Chick's rule!"
 
Kathy,

Wow! You have done so well and more importantly, you continue to do well. What an amazing accomplishment.
 
Thank you Candi and Bobbi - I am pretty amazed myself! I feel so good! I feel that since I have accomplished this I can accomplish anything - it is a fabulous feeling!
 
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