Using Crosstrainer - Run, Bike or Exercise?

[AlexRees93]

I have recently bought a cross trainer in conjunction with a Microsoft band but was unsure whether or not to do a run or just general exercise. I did the same exercise (about 20 minutes, resistance 1) twice and got on average 100 calories less on a run than general exercise. I was wondering if anyone else encountered this and could help me? Because there is nothing worse than thinking you burned more calories than you actually did.

Thanks!

 

[Ian jardine]

Hi. I do not have an answer for your issue. Rather I have an issue with the way my new MS Band also reacts to an elliptical machine and this may be a related issue to yours in the way that our Bands interpret exercise from such a machine.
I work out at level 10 on the elliptical machine and ensure the machine records at least 5,000 STEPS in between 40-45 minutes. But my Band only sees half of this and shows approx. 2,500 steps. By comparison my Intel Basis records for full 5,000 steps.
Q: Why is the Band not seeing all the steps only 50%?
Q: Should the Band be put into "RUN" mode? I haven't done this as I thought it would likely activate the GPS and drain the battery thinking I want to record actual miles.....
Hope this helps to fully diagnose BOTH our problems better.
Ian

 

[AlexRees93]

Maybe because on the machine, we never touch the floor or perhaps because the way the body moves is slightly different to walking/running, it doesn't detect all the steps and then associates a left and right movement as one step perhaps? Wish I knew sorry :/ I know, however, that on the 'RUN' mode, you can deactivate GPS as I have done so for when I was playing football.

 

[Ian jardine]

It does not explain why the Intel Basis hardware/software accurately reflects all the "steps" taken on an elliptical machine and the Band does not. In my case my band ONLY measures 50% of the actual steps taken. I am no techie, but I would think the hardware interprets the "stepping motion" of ones body in walking and in the cycles of an E machine in a similar fashion. Are you suffering a similar incorrect reading between the "step" your machine (cross trainer/elliptical)records and those on your band? If so we have exactly the same issue with the band.

 

[Ian jardine]

Mr. Softy Band support have admitted to me that indoor, stationary gym machines, are under recording steps and calorie etc. counts. They say they did a lot of testing, but looks like their emphasis has been on mainly outside activities as they could give me no specifics on a 'fix" now or in the future.