I did my 45 minutes as usual today on the treadmill and then out of curiosity I changed only the computer on the machine from female to male. Nothing else changed. On average for 15 minutes at 1.5 mph for a female, it is 36 calories burned. The same 15 minutes at the same speed for a male is 56 calories.

I think that the computers on these machines are based on an average weight unless the weight is actually asked for on the settings. If this is true then I am probably closer to the weight for an average man than for an average woman so I would be burning more than the machine says I am.

Do you think my theory stands up? LOL! At least it makes me feel better!

PS My curiosity also got in 15 more minutes on the treadmill too. So today I did 1 hour instead. Yay, me!

those men!!!! it's totally unfair!!!! but i suspect that it has more to do with the amount of muscle that most men have. we don't have as much. drat!!!!!!

but you did FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

That is what I think! Congrats on your extra 15 min! You go, girl!!

Thanks, girls! I appreciate the praise.

It could also be based on muscle mass? Men generally have a higher percentage of muscle mass and that would cause more calories to be burned...

who knows. But congrats on the hour!

Thanks, Matt. You and Jiffy are probably right.

Wow, karefree! An hour! Great job!

Exercise machine readings are based on the body of an average 150 pound person according to what I've always heard. Like my daily 10K exercise bike ride. According to the bike reading panel, I burn only 209 calories, but according to my actual weight and the 10K and the speed, I actually burn 285.6 calories.

Men have it a lot easier when trying to lose weight - they can lose more weight safely and generally have a higher metabolism which would mean they burn calories more quickly.

Just the way it is! It stinks though I must say.