App for accurate exercise tracking?

I will try to explain as best as possible what I'm looking for.

I use MFP and track my food and exercise but I think their list of exercises is a bit lame.

I just joined a gym and I can input all my data on the screen of a treadmill, bike, or elliptical and it will show exactly how many calories I burn - which is wonderful. Except, now I giant numbers with others around, I'm not terribly comfortable doing that and it is a pain to do it every single time to every machine. If I workout with a friend, then s/he gets to see what I put in there.

Is there a good app where I can input that data and I may have to back an add the speed, incline, etc. so I am doing it myself rather than putting that info out for everyone and having to do it each time. Plus, I'd like an accurate calorie burn.

Thanks! (I'm posting at the Main board forum too!)

When you say Giant numbers you put in are you refering to inputting your weight in the treadmill or stationary bike?

If this is the case then don't be.  For the most part no one else really caresor pays attention, yes you may occasionally come across a douche bag but for the most part everyone else is there to focus on their workout.  If anything some people will start to have some respect for your hard work after seeing you there consistently.

Also don't workout for a specific calorie goal do it for how it makes you feel and the improvements to your fitness.  The calculations for how many calories burned on the machines can sometimes be close or sometimes be way off, as they are based on avergaes.  I know when I started they were off by about 200-300 calories for 60 minutes and today if I compare with my HRM they are off by 75-100. 

 

As far as the giant numbers - a little of both. Both the number that is my weight and the size of the display. I swear you can read those digital numbers from space.

I'm embarrassed to say I don't know what HRM is.

HRM = Heart Rate Monitor

The machines in the gym are averages, even with your weight, it does not include your sex, your height, your current fitness level.

The only way to get a truly accurate count is a HRM. The machines are only estimates.

(i mean why is that if i run at 4.4 on the TM, I burn 547 cal/hour but at 4.5 i burn 1011 cal/hour??) See what I mean?

I read an article about how some of the workout machines manufactures inflate the cal/burned formulas so people will think they are burning more on their machines than they are....

But I still like to plug my numbers into MFP and let it tell me i burned 1000 cal during a workout. Makes me feel better even if its not true

 Which HRM montitor do y'all recommend?  I think I am going to take the plunge and get one. 

it really depends on what you want to use it for and what activities you currently do and may start doing. 

Polar and Garmin both make excellent products.  Since I run and am moving into Tris I opted for a nice Garmin as it has a built in GPS.

Garmin doesn't synch with the equipment at my gym where Polar does.  Regardless of which way you go you will want to get one that has Advanced Calorie computations.  this calculates you calories burned based on your heart rate. 

 Thanks Paul.     Maybe I should hold off buying one until I know what I really want to do.   I can see me in the future getting serious about biking but I'm not there yet.  I may end up changing my mind between now and then.