Heart Rate Monitor

lailouisa

Hey everyone
I recently bought a heart rate monitor that shows the amount of calories that I burn during my workouts. I'm wondering if anyone knows how accurate it is and how it works. I'm a bit skeptical because I seem to ave burned a lot of calories from doing a short work out.

Thanks

goal30Lori

Hi! What brand and model is it? I haven't bought one yet, but from advice from others on here I've learned that you need one with a chest strap to be very accurate.

BigVinney

Go to youtube and search iron90, they do a great job of explaining how to use the heart rate monitor. If you are looking to burn fat you will find that working out and keeping your heart rate at 60 percent is the best way. If you go over 70 then you burn everything before the fat...

From Larry Krutka

Using heart rate monitors to burn fat
In my last blog I recommend the use of a heart rate monitor when starting an exercise program. A heart rate monitor gives you instant feedback about what effort level of exercise is right for you. To understand why knowing your heart rate is important you’ll have to bear with me on some human physiology. Stay with me, this is important.

Your effort level is directly correlated to your heart rate. The harder you work the higher your heart rate. Many people do not know that your body draws energy for your muscles from several different sources. In a hundred yard dash, runners utilize chemical energy stored in the muscles called ATP. Why is that important? The body does not burn significant amounts of fat at high intensity. If your goal is to lose weight, you want to burn fat. At high intensity exercise you burn ATP. At medium intensity you primarily burn glycogen and small amounts of fat. Medium intensity is usually referred to as your aerobic range. This range is about 80 percent of your maximal heart rate. Charts giving your estimated aerobic range can be found on the American Heart Association’s Web site. Exercising below your aerobic range increases the percentage of fat burned in a workout. This is important because energy used from fat is less likely to be replaced. When glycogen is used as a fuel source your insulin drops and you become hungry and are driven to replace those calories. That is why you often hear people say things like, “I exercised for weeks and did not lose a single pound of fat.” These people probably exercised too hard!

I’m about to tie this information into an effective exercise/weight loss program. Bear with me through just a little more physiology. How can you increase the percentage of fat burning when you exercise? Most marathon runners know this one. Once a week you exercise at a sub aerobic heart rate for 50 percent longer amount of time. If you usually walk at a 16 minute pace per mile for two miles, then you should walk at an 18 minute pace for 3 miles. Exercise 10 beats per minute lower for a longer period. This long slow exercise increases your ability to burn fat.

ironweber717

My experience with using one for years is that it's just a guide to give you an idea of about how much you're burning.

lailouisa

Mine does come with a chest strap thank you for all your replies it really helped a lot!! I got the Timex Ironman one

lailouisa

I've been doing interval training using the "Insanity" work out. What do you think?

Azdak

Go to youtube and search iron90, they do a great job of explaining how to use the heart rate monitor. If you are looking to burn fat you will find that working out and keeping your heart rate at 60 percent is the best way. If you go over 70 then you burn everything before the fat...

From Larry Krutka

Using heart rate monitors to burn fat
In my last blog I recommend the use of a heart rate monitor when starting an exercise program. A heart rate monitor gives you instant feedback about what effort level of exercise is right for you. To understand why knowing your heart rate is important you’ll have to bear with me on some human physiology. Stay with me, this is important.

Your effort level is directly correlated to your heart rate. The harder you work the higher your heart rate. Many people do not know that your body draws energy for your muscles from several different sources. In a hundred yard dash, runners utilize chemical energy stored in the muscles called ATP. Why is that important? The body does not burn significant amounts of fat at high intensity. If your goal is to lose weight, you want to burn fat. At high intensity exercise you burn ATP. At medium intensity you primarily burn glycogen and small amounts of fat. Medium intensity is usually referred to as your aerobic range. This range is about 80 percent of your maximal heart rate. Charts giving your estimated aerobic range can be found on the American Heart Association’s Web site. Exercising below your aerobic range increases the percentage of fat burned in a workout. This is important because energy used from fat is less likely to be replaced. When glycogen is used as a fuel source your insulin drops and you become hungry and are driven to replace those calories. That is why you often hear people say things like, “I exercised for weeks and did not lose a single pound of fat.” These people probably exercised too hard!

I’m about to tie this information into an effective exercise/weight loss program. Bear with me through just a little more physiology. How can you increase the percentage of fat burning when you exercise? Most marathon runners know this one. Once a week you exercise at a sub aerobic heart rate for 50 percent longer amount of time. If you usually walk at a 16 minute pace per mile for two miles, then you should walk at an 18 minute pace for 3 miles. Exercise 10 beats per minute lower for a longer period. This long slow exercise increases your ability to burn fat.

This reminds me of a guy who has all the correct parts for making a car, but puts the engine in the trunk and the wheels on the roof--FAIL.