Exercise Revelation

( The Back Story )

( Basic Machine Operation )

I made a discovery last night on the elliptical crosstrainer. Instead of running in "Quick Start" mode, like I usually do, I ran in Regular mode and chose the manual program. The only real difference in the set-up was that the machine asked my age, weight and the length of time I'd like to run. 

As I "ran", I was surprised to see the number of calories expended increased at a faster rate - about 50% faster. As I thought about it, I realized why. 

In "Quick Start" mode, the crosstrainer can only measure the calories burned moving the flywheel around. In Regular mode, manual program, the crosstrainer can calculate the number of calories burned moving the flywheel around, plus the number of calories burned moving your body around. At my weight, that's a 50% gain! 

So, instead of burning a little over 600 calories an hour, I've really been burning over 900 calories an hour! I am so psyched!

Postscript:
In the past, running for an hour, 7500 strides, 600+ calories, would be about 5.4 miles. No more. The new calculations which has me burn 900+ calories an hour instead of 600+ calories an hour has me travelling 4.2 miles. Bummer.

Exercise FAQs

( Read more about my going to the gym. )