Activity Points Calculations

[Guest guest]

Hi!

I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

for a while. I just have a quick question about

activity points.

Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

to accurately count how many calories that an

individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

wrong about this??), but...

I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

" weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

400 calories.

So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

" brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

How can these be so far off from one another?? And

how would/do you reconcile?

I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

different conversion for the two?

Thanks so much for any input!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Well, this may confuse you but I really don't look at activity points in that

manner. There is a good called Get With The Program by Bob Greene. In this

book he describes (in detail) how to ensure that your workout is productive. It

has to do with getting in touch with your body...learning how to recognize when

you are in " The Zone. " In another book I (Fit or Fat) I learned how long a

person needs to work out in order for weight loss...it's only 12 minutes in " The

Zone " to start...and building up from there.

I lost 100 pounds in 10 months living my life by this method...never looked at

activity points at all...they confuse me, as they seem to conflict with other

info.

erin kelly terps122@...> wrote:

Hi!

I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

for a while. I just have a quick question about

activity points.

Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

to accurately count how many calories that an

individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

wrong about this??), but...

I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

" weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

400 calories.

So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

" brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

How can these be so far off from one another?? And

how would/do you reconcile?

I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

different conversion for the two?

Thanks so much for any input!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

1 AP is 100 Calories burned versus 1 food point is about 50 calories.

>

>

> Date: 2005/05/23 Mon PM 01:43:18 EDT

> To: Serious-Weight-Watchers

> Subject: Re: Activity Points Calculations

>

> Well, this may confuse you but I really don't look at activity points in that

manner. There is a good called Get With The Program by Bob Greene. In this

book he describes (in detail) how to ensure that your workout is productive. It

has to do with getting in touch with your body...learning how to recognize when

you are in " The Zone. " In another book I (Fit or Fat) I learned how long a

person needs to work out in order for weight loss...it's only 12 minutes in " The

Zone " to start...and building up from there.

> I lost 100 pounds in 10 months living my life by this method...never looked at

activity points at all...they confuse me, as they seem to conflict with other

info.

>

> erin kelly terps122@...> wrote:

> Hi!

>

> I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

> for a while. I just have a quick question about

> activity points.

>

> Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

> to accurately count how many calories that an

> individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

> wrong about this??), but...

>

> I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

> " weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

> age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

> workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

> 400 calories.

>

> So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

> on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

> I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

> " brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

> strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

>

> How can these be so far off from one another?? And

> how would/do you reconcile?

>

> I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

> point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

> is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

> different conversion for the two?

>

> Thanks so much for any input!

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

I would say, , that you just go ahead and go with whatever the APs tell

you for now. There is a website called www.caloriesperhour.com that you can

use to try to get a more accurate reading of what you are burning. Obviously

with the online program they can't calculate how hard you're working. I see

some people on the elliptical just sort of " la de dah-ing " through their

workout. I see other people sweating buckets and giving it their all! When I

used to do the elliptical I would just count the calories burned, so if I

burned 400 calories I'd just enter 4 APs.

Don't let it stress you out, though. Basically your body is benefitting big

time from every single minute of exercise you do! I like the relationship

that WWers helps us understand that exercise translates to calories burned

which can translate to more food, if we want it to. I think that really

helped me to keep on exercising once I started. Now I do it because it's

just so darn good for me and makes me feel good to do it.

Here are a few benefits outside of being able to eat more that I've found:

1. I get sick much less than I used to.

2. When I do get sick it is shorter than it used to be. I have bronchitis

today and I fully expect that within a few days I'll be back to normal.

3. I have an issue with anger...not like dangerous anger, but cranky anger.

Since working out I am much more even tempered, rarely blow up like I used

to, and mentally feel great most of the time.

4. I'm able to work out problems much better because going out for a run not

only clears my mind but gives me alone time to work things through.

5. Exercise is the best stressbuster you can find. Seriously! When I'm

really stressing out and I have the time, I go for a run and when I'm back,

I've worked it out or I'm not angry any more or I just feel better about

life.

6. I have done things since starting exercise and losing weight that I never

DREAMED I would do. I've done triathlons, run a marathon and a number of

half marathons, I'm more self confident, and more interested in just

embracing life in its fullest than I ever was before. (Oh I always loved to

make memories and do fun things but now I do things that are just really

exciting experiences that I wouldn't have had the self confidence to try

before.)

7. I always was a gal with a lot of energy, but now I'm like the Energizer

Bunny on Speed.

8. Exercise is my morning cup of coffee and my transition from work to home

every day. I work out in the morning either swimming or aerobics. In the

afternoon I run home from work and maybe get some weight lifting in or bike

riding in. Running home from work is awesome. It means that the MOMENt I

step out of my classroom door I'm " off work " (and it saves money on another

car payment). By the time I get home all the stress of my day is gone and

I'm energized to do stuff in the evening, where before I'd drive home and

just want to sit all night long.

9. My weekends have changed from movie marathons and hanging around the

house after sleeping in until 10 to getting up at 7 (at the latest), running

with my husband to Starbucks for breakfast, going out and doing things like

climbing rock walls or bike riding, taking the dogs to the dog park, etc.

Sunday we got up and drove to the lake, ran 7.5 miles, went out to lunch,

went to a movie, and came home and did yard work. We don't just " rest " on

the weekend, we go go go and it's AWESOME! I swear, it feels like we live in

a Nike commercial or something! Haha!

10. Running with my husband gives us wonderful time to reconnect together.

Sometimes we run in silence just enjoying nature, and sometimes we just talk

talk talk. It's wonderful.

Anyhow...definitely keep on exercising! Whether you're earning 10 APs or

just 2, it's really life changing for those of us who suffer from " adult

onset athleticism " .

_____

From: Serious-Weight-Watchers

[mailto:Serious-Weight-Watchers ] On Behalf Of erin kelly

Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 8:18 AM

To: Serious-Weight-Watchers

Subject: Activity Points Calculations

Hi!

I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

for a while. I just have a quick question about

activity points.

Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

to accurately count how many calories that an

individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

wrong about this??), but...

I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

" weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

400 calories.

So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

" brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

How can these be so far off from one another?? And

how would/do you reconcile?

I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

different conversion for the two?

Thanks so much for any input!

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Exercise helps your mood, too. I used to suffer from

clinical depression and I thought I had it kicked a

few months ago (around when I started exercising).

Well, now that I've been forced back to a sedentary

lifestyle for a couple of weeks after the surgery, I'm

back to being low energy and depressed. Tonight I'm

assembling a computer at home and tomorrow I have

company over. I can't wait until Wednesday when I can

finally hit the gym again. I may just tell the PC to

wait and do a workout video or hit the treadmill

instead. I had permission to work out this weekend,

but I was too busy swaping out cable boxes, visiting

my roommate's grandmother in the hospital,

entertaining company, etc.

Check out my website at http://www.kehinde.com.

[Guest guest]

Thanks everyone, for all your responses!

I have been on a plateau (ok, slight gain!) for a few weeks and

dedided that last week was the week I was going to actually start

going to the gym regularly. So regardless of how many activity

points I'm earning, I'm already just feeling good about exercising

more. I was just curious about the difference between the two

estimates (even with 100 calories per activity point, that's still a

2 point difference).

I am down 44.6 lbs now (was down 47.5 last month) and still have at

least 70 lbs left to go...

Even though I don't write much, I appreciate all the help that's

given on this list...

THANK YOU!

265/220.4/150

> I would say, , that you just go ahead and go with whatever the

APs tell

> you for now. There is a website called www.caloriesperhour.com

that you can

> use to try to get a more accurate reading of what you are burning.

Obviously

> with the online program they can't calculate how hard you're

working. I see

> some people on the elliptical just sort of " la de dah-ing " through

their

> workout. I see other people sweating buckets and giving it their

all! When I

> used to do the elliptical I would just count the calories burned,

so if I

> burned 400 calories I'd just enter 4 APs.

>

> Don't let it stress you out, though. Basically your body is

benefitting big

> time from every single minute of exercise you do! I like the

relationship

> that WWers helps us understand that exercise translates to

calories burned

> which can translate to more food, if we want it to. I think that

really

> helped me to keep on exercising once I started. Now I do it

because it's

> just so darn good for me and makes me feel good to do it.

>

> Here are a few benefits outside of being able to eat more that

I've found:

>

> 1. I get sick much less than I used to.

> 2. When I do get sick it is shorter than it used to be. I have

bronchitis

> today and I fully expect that within a few days I'll be back to

normal.

> 3. I have an issue with anger...not like dangerous anger, but

cranky anger.

> Since working out I am much more even tempered, rarely blow up

like I used

> to, and mentally feel great most of the time.

> 4. I'm able to work out problems much better because going out for

a run not

> only clears my mind but gives me alone time to work things through.

> 5. Exercise is the best stressbuster you can find. Seriously! When

I'm

> really stressing out and I have the time, I go for a run and when

I'm back,

> I've worked it out or I'm not angry any more or I just feel better

about

> life.

> 6. I have done things since starting exercise and losing weight

that I never

> DREAMED I would do. I've done triathlons, run a marathon and a

number of

> half marathons, I'm more self confident, and more interested in

just

> embracing life in its fullest than I ever was before. (Oh I always

loved to

> make memories and do fun things but now I do things that are just

really

> exciting experiences that I wouldn't have had the self confidence

to try

> before.)

> 7. I always was a gal with a lot of energy, but now I'm like the

Energizer

> Bunny on Speed.

> 8. Exercise is my morning cup of coffee and my transition from

work to home

> every day. I work out in the morning either swimming or aerobics.

In the

> afternoon I run home from work and maybe get some weight lifting

in or bike

> riding in. Running home from work is awesome. It means that the

MOMENt I

> step out of my classroom door I'm " off work " (and it saves money

on another

> car payment). By the time I get home all the stress of my day is

gone and

> I'm energized to do stuff in the evening, where before I'd drive

home and

> just want to sit all night long.

> 9. My weekends have changed from movie marathons and hanging

around the

> house after sleeping in until 10 to getting up at 7 (at the

latest), running

> with my husband to Starbucks for breakfast, going out and doing

things like

> climbing rock walls or bike riding, taking the dogs to the dog

park, etc.

> Sunday we got up and drove to the lake, ran 7.5 miles, went out to

lunch,

> went to a movie, and came home and did yard work. We don't

just " rest " on

> the weekend, we go go go and it's AWESOME! I swear, it feels like

we live in

> a Nike commercial or something! Haha!

> 10. Running with my husband gives us wonderful time to reconnect

together.

> Sometimes we run in silence just enjoying nature, and sometimes we

just talk

> talk talk. It's wonderful.

>

> Anyhow...definitely keep on exercising! Whether you're earning 10

APs or

> just 2, it's really life changing for those of us who suffer

from " adult

> onset athleticism " .

[Guest guest]

Just $.02... I read in this month's Shape magazine (one of their little Q&A

columns) that

often the calorie-burning calculators on elliptical machines are not very

accurate. On

treadmills, they're quite accurate because treadmills have been around for a

long time and

they have the algorithms down pat. But ellipticals are newer machines with new

factors,

and that makes it hard to quantify. The person answering the question suggested

that if

you're using an elliptical machine with moving arm handles, you're probably

burning as

many calories as if you expend the same amount of energy on a treadmill. If you

have

stationary handles, you're burning 15-20% fewer calories than if you do the same

workout

on a treadmill.

Hope that helps, or at any rate is interesting!

JB

> I would say, , that you just go ahead and go with whatever the APs tell

> you for now. There is a website called www.caloriesperhour.com that you can

> use to try to get a more accurate reading of what you are burning. Obviously

> with the online program they can't calculate how hard you're working. I see

> some people on the elliptical just sort of " la de dah-ing " through their

> workout. I see other people sweating buckets and giving it their all! When I

> used to do the elliptical I would just count the calories burned, so if I

> burned 400 calories I'd just enter 4 APs.

>

> Don't let it stress you out, though. Basically your body is benefitting big

> time from every single minute of exercise you do! I like the relationship

> that WWers helps us understand that exercise translates to calories burned

> which can translate to more food, if we want it to. I think that really

> helped me to keep on exercising once I started. Now I do it because it's

> just so darn good for me and makes me feel good to do it.

>

> Here are a few benefits outside of being able to eat more that I've found:

>

> 1. I get sick much less than I used to.

> 2. When I do get sick it is shorter than it used to be. I have bronchitis

> today and I fully expect that within a few days I'll be back to normal.

> 3. I have an issue with anger...not like dangerous anger, but cranky anger.

> Since working out I am much more even tempered, rarely blow up like I used

> to, and mentally feel great most of the time.

> 4. I'm able to work out problems much better because going out for a run not

> only clears my mind but gives me alone time to work things through.

> 5. Exercise is the best stressbuster you can find. Seriously! When I'm

> really stressing out and I have the time, I go for a run and when I'm back,

> I've worked it out or I'm not angry any more or I just feel better about

> life.

> 6. I have done things since starting exercise and losing weight that I never

> DREAMED I would do. I've done triathlons, run a marathon and a number of

> half marathons, I'm more self confident, and more interested in just

> embracing life in its fullest than I ever was before. (Oh I always loved to

> make memories and do fun things but now I do things that are just really

> exciting experiences that I wouldn't have had the self confidence to try

> before.)

> 7. I always was a gal with a lot of energy, but now I'm like the Energizer

> Bunny on Speed.

> 8. Exercise is my morning cup of coffee and my transition from work to home

> every day. I work out in the morning either swimming or aerobics. In the

> afternoon I run home from work and maybe get some weight lifting in or bike

> riding in. Running home from work is awesome. It means that the MOMENt I

> step out of my classroom door I'm " off work " (and it saves money on another

> car payment). By the time I get home all the stress of my day is gone and

> I'm energized to do stuff in the evening, where before I'd drive home and

> just want to sit all night long.

> 9. My weekends have changed from movie marathons and hanging around the

> house after sleeping in until 10 to getting up at 7 (at the latest), running

> with my husband to Starbucks for breakfast, going out and doing things like

> climbing rock walls or bike riding, taking the dogs to the dog park, etc.

> Sunday we got up and drove to the lake, ran 7.5 miles, went out to lunch,

> went to a movie, and came home and did yard work. We don't just " rest " on

> the weekend, we go go go and it's AWESOME! I swear, it feels like we live in

> a Nike commercial or something! Haha!

> 10. Running with my husband gives us wonderful time to reconnect together.

> Sometimes we run in silence just enjoying nature, and sometimes we just talk

> talk talk. It's wonderful.

>

> Anyhow...definitely keep on exercising! Whether you're earning 10 APs or

> just 2, it's really life changing for those of us who suffer from " adult

> onset athleticism " .

>

>

> _____

>

> From: Serious-Weight-Watchers

> [mailto:Serious-Weight-Watchers ] On Behalf Of erin kelly

> Sent: Monday, May 23, 2005 8:18 AM

> To: Serious-Weight-Watchers

> Subject: Activity Points Calculations

>

>

> Hi!

>

> I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

> for a while. I just have a quick question about

> activity points.

>

> Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

> to accurately count how many calories that an

> individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

> wrong about this??), but...

>

> I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

> " weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

> age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

> workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

> 400 calories.

>

> So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

> on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

> I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

> " brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

> strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

>

> How can these be so far off from one another?? And

> how would/do you reconcile?

>

> I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

> point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

> is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

> different conversion for the two?

>

> Thanks so much for any input!

>

[Guest guest]

I've heard the same thing. When I used to work out at the gym regularly, the

machine would always say that I burned upwards of 650 to 700 calories per 30 to

45 minute workout. The brand name of the ellipticals the gym uses are Precor.

When I started working out at home on my own elliptical, the same 30 to 45

minute workout was only 300 to 400 calories. I was quite surprised. My

elliptical is a Nordic Track.

So, I spoke to someone (can't remember who) about this result and was told that

the # of calories ones actually burns on the elliptical, versus what the machine

may say one burned, is significantly less, like may 60 to 70% or so. I can't

remember the exact figures.

But, I personally prefer the elliptical because I feel like I'm getting a great

workout and I see results a lot faster on the elliptical than the treadmill. I

have to run on the treadmill to get the same results...running isn't an option

for me...bad knees. :-(

Hope

Activity Points Calculations

>

>

> Hi!

>

> I'm , 26yo from land, and I've been lurking

> for a while. I just have a quick question about

> activity points.

>

> Now, I know there's no way for a machine or calculator

> to accurately count how many calories that an

> individual has burned in a specific activity (or am I

> wrong about this??), but...

>

> I've been working on the elliptical lately, doing the

> " weight loss " program setting, entering my weight and

> age into the machine. At the end of the 33 minute

> workout, the elliptical says that I've burned almost

> 400 calories.

>

> So when I go to my WW online and enter in 30 minutes

> on the elliptical, it only gives me 2 activity points.

> I mean, it also gives me 2 points for 30 minutes of

> " brisk walking " which I consider to be way less

> strenuous than the elliptical on " weight loss " mode.

>

> How can these be so far off from one another?? And

> how would/do you reconcile?

>

> I guess another question would be: does 1 activity

> point roughly equal 50 calories burned as 1 food point

> is approximately 50 calories consumed? Or is there a

> different conversion for the two?

>

> Thanks so much for any input!

>