Fastest to burn 1000calories challenge

[ChasW]

I find the treadmill the most generous of the machines. I can reach and sustain 22 on it compared to 15 on the xtrainer and about 12 on the rowing machine. I am 55 and 93kg. My target burn is between 850 and 1000 a session. I have done 1000 in 50mins by 15 mins running at 11.4kph at 1.5 incline then remaining time fast walking at max incline for 10-15 mins then a gradual decrease in speed and incline to the end.

[BarryGibb]

goldblum said:

BMWBen said:

Meoricin said:

BarryGibb said:

You think the Concept 2 calories calcs are inaccurate?

Given that everyone burns calories at different rates, yes. Do they even take into account your actual (properly measured) body fat %? That'd surely have to be the minimum starting point for information to get remotely close. I would imagine you'd need blood tests as well, to assess sugar levels etc.

I don't think this is the thread for this discussion though. It's not fair on those who are using it as a motivator, and measurement for competition (still valid uses for the number the machines give).

I assumed that it was actually calculating the energy that you had put through the machine.

It can calculate that very accurately. On a bike it knows the weight of the wheel, and how fast it's spinning and for how long. Simple. Rower you can do something very similar. For a treadmill, you can't.

The above is correct.I have heard some frankly rather odd statements from other posters who have no idea what a valid calorie expenditure test is. Muscle uses only about 5 more cals per pound than fat at rest.Nothing to do with bodyfat % or people burning calories at a different rates,a largely insignificant difference.There's a standard ratio of cals vs energy expenditure in relation to bodyweight and if you're not burning enough you need to work harder.

Here's three tests..I did mine 3 times and took the mean..it was 40 cals different from the treadmill value I previously mentioned,not bad at all.

http://www.brianmac.co.uk/energyexp.htm

http://www.healthstatus.com/cgi-bin/calc/calculato...

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/Calories.html

Edited by goldblum on Friday 3rd February 00:43

Here is my working

~300 watts
~260 KCals an hour
http://www.unitconversion.org/power/watts-to-calor...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle

"For example, a manufacturer of rowing equipment shows burned calories as four times the actual mechanical work, plus 300 kcal per hour,[17] which amounts to about 20 percent efficiency at 250 watts of mechanical out"

So for 17.5 mins (5k row), this equates to around 390 cals for 175lb individual, or ~500 for me

[Halb]

Was on the treadmill today for 15 minutes. Ran at 7.5kph at 1 incline for first ten minutes then 8 for next five. 120kg weight.
Said 300m calories at the end of it. It did include 2-3 minutes cool down.

[otolith]

BarryGibb said:

Here is my working

~300 watts
~260 KCals an hour
http://www.unitconversion.org/power/watts-to-calor...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle

"For example, a manufacturer of rowing equipment shows burned calories as four times the actual mechanical work, plus 300 kcal per hour,[17] which amounts to about 20 percent efficiency at 250 watts of mechanical out"

So for 17.5 mins (5k row), this equates to around 390 cals for 175lb individual, or ~500 for me

The assumptions used by the Concept2 rower are here, along with a calculator to correct them for your actual weight.

Doesn't seem to make much difference for me - I usually do 5000m, which takes me about 25 minutes and says that I used ~270kcals, correction for 81kg increases it to 272.5. Presumably these calculations are based on validation tests using respirometry to accurately measure calories consumed in relation to work done on the machine. I have emailed Concept2 to see if they can provide any information about how much error they believe there is in the estimates and what if any factors affect it.

[Efbe]

managed a lowly 43:46 for 1000calories on the cross trainer today, just wasn't feeling.
think my choice of music may have let me down. though the radio stations of GTA vice city is amusing, doesn't motivate you much.

we have the same concept2 rowers in our gym, so will be starting using those next week and see how I get on there. I don't think i'll be beating my 40:39 time on the cross trainer anyhow!

[Efbe]

still doing this. haven't beaten my best time yet thought

had a few failed attempts at rowing.

managed a 41:04 on the crosstrainer again today, just don't seem to be able to get under the 40 min mark

[Bohally]

Do you guys find it easier after say the first 10k? I usually do 10k on the bike, personal best so far is 21.45 which I don't think was particularly quick but I was knackered after it. Not great at 21 and 14.5 stone... I'd be tempted to go more than 10k but I doubt I'd be able to walk for a week after it.

[Efbe]

Bohally said:

Do you guys find it easier after say the first 10k? I usually do 10k on the bike, personal best so far is 21.45 which I don't think was particularly quick but I was knackered after it. Not great at 21 and 14.5 stone... I'd be tempted to go more than 10k but I doubt I'd be able to walk for a week after it.

actually yes, If I can find a decent pace and find something else to concentrate on then it starts to get easier from 10 mins in until around 35 mins on the crosstrainer. When I'm out on a run, I can go for an hour without really thinking about the running.

[E38Ross]

i think i'm out of this one as i'm very much a lightweight. Garmin GPS watch has my weight etc and typically takes me around 10 miles running to burn 1000 calories, my best road running for 10 miles is 62:48 which is far from hanging about IMO

[dave_s13]

E38Ross said:

i think i'm out of this one as i'm very much a lightweight. Garmin GPS watch has my weight etc and typically takes me around 10 miles running to burn 1000 calories, my best road running for 10 miles is 62:48 which is far from hanging about IMO

You must be the proverbial racing snake

What height weight are you out of interest?

Oh and I cracked 8m53s/mile pace last night on that same 5.4mile run

[E38Ross]

dave_s13 said:

E38Ross said:

i think i'm out of this one as i'm very much a lightweight. Garmin GPS watch has my weight etc and typically takes me around 10 miles running to burn 1000 calories, my best road running for 10 miles is 62:48 which is far from hanging about IMO

You must be the proverbial racing snake

What height weight are you out of interest?

Oh and I cracked 8m53s/mile pace last night on that same 5.4mile run

I'm a midget just 5ft 6 and 9 stone 2. Interestingly, my stride length is all but identical to taller runners.

Would it get away with saying I must be an awesome runner as I have to run further as a % of my body height?

I'd have a cough at the moment so going training but just an easy run, no reps tonight. Training hard when ill isn't good.

Well done on the time mate

[BorkFactor]

I have never used the cross trainer, what are they like?

[otolith]

BorkFactor said:

I have never used the cross trainer, what are they like?

In my book, for time efficient disposal of calories, it's either that or the rowing machine.

[dave_s13]

E38Ross said:

I'm a midget just 5ft 6 and 9 stone 2. Interestingly, my stride length is all but identical to taller runners.

Would it get away with saying I must be an awesome runner as I have to run further as a % of my body height?

I'd have a cough at the moment so going training but just an easy run, no reps tonight. Training hard when ill isn't good.

Well done on the time mate

6'4" 242lbs (pure muscle, obv) I could beat you in a fight.......if I could catch you

Edited by dave_s13 on Thursday 16th February 16:35

[BorkFactor]

otolith said:

In my book, for time efficient disposal of calories, it's either that or the rowing machine.

Will have to give it a go. I tried the rowing machine, and even on the hardest setting I don't really feel that I am doing very much compared to the equivalent time on the treadmill.

I must be doing something wrong!

[BMWBen]

otolith said:

BorkFactor said:

I have never used the cross trainer, what are they like?

In my book, for time efficient disposal of calories, it's either that or the rowing machine.

Set the resistance up to 60 or higher and see how long you can stay above 350w

[BarryGibb]

BorkFactor said:

otolith said:

In my book, for time efficient disposal of calories, it's either that or the rowing machine.

Will have to give it a go. I tried the rowing machine, and even on the hardest setting I don't really feel that I am doing very much compared to the equivalent time on the treadmill.

I must be doing something wrong!

Surely you will be a lot quicker on the rower compared to the treadmill? My 5k on rower is >5 mins quicker than running.

[louiebaby]

Podie said:

Currently a challenge in our office. 3000m on a concept 2 rower (set to 10). I've managed 13:53 so far...

Sorry to be a nerd, but setting 10 on one rower doesn't compare to setting 10 on another. You need to set the Drag Factor to the same level.

This is in the second menu on the newer machines. Set the measurement going and take a few strokes, you'll get a reading come up. Then adjust the fan a little and take a couple more strokes.

More details:

http://www.concept2.com/us/training/advanced/dragf...

As a comparison, heavyweight (>75kgs) men use 140. This is used for GB squad comparison. On machines I've used in various gyms this has been anything from 4 to 14 on the fan settings. (One was very dirty, and needed a service. It would only get to 125 on setting 10.)

Back to the original question, as a general rule of thumb on a Concept II, I've found with a drag factor of 140, pulling 2:00 splits per 500m, at about 17 or 18 spm is 1000 calories / hour.

Not that I've managed an hour for quite a while.

I'll stop being a rowing nerd now.

[BarryGibb]

louiebaby said:

Back to the original question, as a general rule of thumb on a Concept II, I've found with a drag factor of 140, pulling 2:00 splits per 500m, at about 17 or 18 spm is 1000 calories / hour.

Just to confirm, only the split affects the calories burnt, not drag factor or SPM, agreed?

[louiebaby]

BarryGibb said:

louiebaby said:

Back to the original question, as a general rule of thumb on a Concept II, I've found with a drag factor of 140, pulling 2:00 splits per 500m, at about 17 or 18 spm is 1000 calories / hour.

Just to confirm, only the split affects the calories burnt, not drag factor or SPM, agreed?

I honestly don't know how they work it out. Split is the only thing I really measure, as it is a good measure of performance. I don't worry about the calories really.

I normally sit at about 2:00 - 2:02 @ 17 spm for half an hour at a time. In my previous life, that was more like 1:55 for 60 - 80 minutes.

I think 20 mins @ 17 spm @ 2:00 would burn the same calories as 20 mins @ 34 spm @ 2:00, but I've never tried it.

I suspect the calculation will take drag factor into account. It should. Rowing 5k in water would be easier than 5k in syrup, all other factors being equal.