Heart Rate Monitor - Accurate readings

aj7x
aj7x Posts: 84 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So, I just started getting back into running. It's been a good six months since I last ran regularly and I used to run 20 miles a week. During a 5 mile run my heart rate monitor would normally read about 550 - 600 calories burned.

Now that I am out of shape, I am only running about 2 miles to start. After my run the monitor says I'm burning about 500 calories and my heart rate is about 190.

My question is why are they about the same calories with a longer run and now? Is it because I need to strengthen my heart muscle again? Are these accurate readings?

Replies

  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Your HRM is counting heartbeats and not calories.
    Calories are energy - so weight and distance are a much better guide than heartbeats.
    Your fitness levels have dropped so you have a higher HR for doing the same amount of work.

    Suggest you cross check against a running estimator such as this....
    http://www.runnersworld.com/tools/calories-burned-calculator
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