Heart Rate Monitor

lisaw19855
lisaw19855 Posts: 165 Member
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a resting heart rate of around 58 according to a recent pre op ECG and I'm aware that calories burned on MFP are not accurate so I'm looking for a reasonably priced heart rate monitor to ensure my heart rate reaches the acceptable level while exercising.

I have seen some on Ebay for around £5 (reduced from £15) but that looks too cheap.

Replies

  • lisaw19855
    lisaw19855 Posts: 165 Member
    Anyone?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Questions a bit unclear to be honest. Heart rate remaining in an acceptable range and calories expended are different aspects of the outcomes that you're looking for. Personally I don't think they're all that useful for either purpose, for most people. The value really depends on what sort of training you do.

  • gretchens1
    gretchens1 Posts: 16 Member
    I just bought one on Amazon for $54
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    What exercise?
    What goals?
    Why do you need to hit a certain HR?

    It could be that you would be wasting your time and money or it could be a valuable training aid or it could be the wrong tool for what you are trying to achieve......
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    If you're doing continuous, steady-state cardio, such as running, cycling, Nordic skiing, etc. at a fairly uniform speed, almost any HRM that can be programmed with your age, height, weight, and resting heart rate will do OK; it would be even better if you could find one that also lets you enter your maximum heart rate, if you have determined that with a test (the formulas, like 220-age, aren't very accurate for individuals).

    If you're doing interval training, the HRMs that use Firstbeat's proprietary algorithm will supposedly be a lot more accurate than the typical HRM, though that's based on the company's internal research. They claim that their results are within 5-7% of the values given by direct calorimetry. I use two of them (Garmin Edge 800 and Garmin Forerunner 620), and their estimates for cycling and running match fairly well with my actual weight loss. They are also much lower than the estimates given by the other HRMs (from Timex and Sigma) that I have used.
  • lisaw19855
    lisaw19855 Posts: 165 Member
    sijomial wrote: »
    What exercise?
    What goals?
    Why do you need to hit a certain HR?

    It could be that you would be wasting your time and money or it could be a valuable training aid or it could be the wrong tool for what you are trying to achieve......

    I just want to ensure I'm increasing my heart rate to the acceptable level while I exercise, I power walk, stationary bike, horse ride, squat etc My goal is just to lose weight and improve my fitness.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    lisaw19855 wrote: »
    I just want to ensure I'm increasing my heart rate to the acceptable level while I exercise, I power walk, stationary bike, horse ride, squat etc My goal is just to lose weight and improve my fitness.

    I wouldn't bother with an HRM then, just work on the basis of your perceived exertion.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    edited January 2015
    lisaw19855 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »
    What exercise?
    What goals?
    Why do you need to hit a certain HR?

    It could be that you would be wasting your time and money or it could be a valuable training aid or it could be the wrong tool for what you are trying to achieve......

    I just want to ensure I'm increasing my heart rate to the acceptable level while I exercise, I power walk, stationary bike, horse ride, squat etc My goal is just to lose weight and improve my fitness.
    Losing weight comes from your deficit and a HRM isn't going to be much use in estimating calories for those activities you listed.
    Improving fitness doesn't mean you have to hit one particular HR.

    Power walk - use a walking calculator or a tracking app.

    Horse riding - HRM would be pointless unless the horse is wearing it! :smile:

    Stationery bike - that's a good example where using a HRM for following a training plan could be helpful and if steady state cardio (not intervals) the calorie count could be reasonable.

    Squats - HRM would be pointless and calorie count wouldn't be at all accurate. Go with MFP's guestimates for strength training, circuit training or calisthenics as appropriate.

    Honestly would say save your money.




  • lisaw19855
    lisaw19855 Posts: 165 Member
    sijomial wrote: »

    Horse riding - HRM would be pointless unless the horse is wearing it! :smile:



    Have you ever ridden a horse? and I don't mean those treks you go on during a holiday :p
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    lisaw19855 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »

    Horse riding - HRM would be pointless unless the horse is wearing it! :smile:



    Have you ever ridden a horse? and I don't mean those treks you go on during a holiday :p
    I have yes. There is an entry in the exercise database for it as well I believe.
    Prefer to ride bicycles as they don't have a mind of their own, have brakes and don't smell of poo..... :wink:

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    lisaw19855 wrote: »
    sijomial wrote: »

    Horse riding - HRM would be pointless unless the horse is wearing it! :smile:



    Have you ever ridden a horse? and I don't mean those treks you go on during a holiday :p

    What he means is it does not fall within activites that a HRM would be most accurate for estimating calories for, steady state cardio activity. That's not saying it isn't a workout.
  • FireStorm1972
    FireStorm1972 Posts: 1,142 Member
    Polar FT7 is working great for me. Have 2 of them 8)
  • weaverchick
    weaverchick Posts: 3 Member
    edited January 2015
    Why is there the perception that a hrm is inaccurate during horseback riding? During the 1 1/2 hours I spend catching, grooming, tacking, warming up, riding my lesson, grooming, and releasing, I've spent a reasonable fraction near my max hr and having burned over 700 cal (according to the monitor). Is there a reason to doubt this?
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    weaverchick wrote: »
    Why is there the perception that a hrm is inaccurate during horseback riding? During the 1 1/2 hours I spend catching, grooming, tacking, warming up, riding my lesson, grooming, and releasing, I've spent a reasonable fraction near my max hr and having burned over 700 cal (according to the monitor). Is there a reason to doubt this?

    Does that activity really sound like state cardio? Same or similar HR all the way?
    HRM calorie estimates are thrown out by cardio intervals let alone huge differences that you will have had during that 90mins.
    It's exercise and burns calories - it's just a totally inappropriate use of a HRM.
    Sorry but there's plenty of doubt about your monitor's calorie count.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    weaverchick wrote: »
    Why is there the perception that a hrm is inaccurate during horseback riding?

    While the HR data may itself be accurate moment to moment, although I'd question that for a £15 device, that doesn't translate into any useful information.

    And calorie expenditure estimate will be inaccurate due to the fluctuations in activity through the period. Trying to keep oneself in a zone is only possible if one has done some lab testing to determine what those zones are, and in any case that's only a useful approach when one is at a relatively high level of performance already.

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