How accurate are the calorie readings on the cadio machines

[illusion88]

So recently I have been using an elliptical machine to get some cardio workout. I type in my age and weight, pick a program (usually hill climb) and go for an hour. It has a heart rate monitor and a calorie display. How accurate is that? I have only used it a few times and haven't been consistent with the workout intensity to see if the reading is consistent. The HR monitor is accurate, although sometimes it will give a false reading. It's pretty obvious when that happens, it's either way too low (in the 60s when I'm working hard) or way too high (in the 200s).


On a side note, I hate doing cardio inside. Usually around the 15 minute mark I am wishing I could be somewhere else. I am used to either hiking, cycling or trail running. I sprained my ankle at the beginning of the month and it's still too weak to be out doing my regular cardio activities. Although I have jumped on the bike a few times.

 

[KingGheedora]

Not that accurate, I would take it as a rough approximation. People with the same height and weight can have very different metabolisms.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I always just assume plus or minus about 20%. Seems to me it would be pretty impossible for a piece of equipment to be very accurate when it has to deal with the whole spectrum of metabolisms and body types people have. When I'm tracking calories burned to cut I will record the lower value and consider any extra to be uncounted bonus calories. The best way to beat an error margin is to assume a value that is unlikely to be wrong in a direction that is detrimental to your goals.

 

[StageLeft]

not very