Heart rate monitors, are they worth it?
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I love mine!! I have two with the chest strap. I bought a Polar but lost my transmitter and found one at ALDI's for $20 that works just as well. It is the best investment I have made thus far....it keeps me motivated and I can track my burned calories during a workout.0
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Yes. However, for maximum benefit/accuracy, you should find a gym that does metabolic testing. You have to pay for that, and the little mask you wear, but it is worth it in the end. Then they take your results and plug them into your watch, so that your zones and calorie burn are a reflection of *your* metabolism, not just any person of similar age/ht/wt/sex based on those generic zones you see printed out on charts/machines.0
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I don't really see the point, but whatever floats your boat.0
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I bought a Polar FT4. I think it is worth every dime I paid for it and some extra. Using it has helped me gauge just how much exercise I am actually getting, because I am still quite out of shape, I often have to stop and go on exercise things so it's good to have those real numbers so I don't overestimate. Statistically, research has shown overweight people overestimate the amount of calories they burn through exercise, which makes weight loss more complicated and difficult.
ETA: one good example, the numbers for zumba on MFP, would have given me credit for 6+ times the calories that my HRM said I actually probably burned-- if I just used MFP numbers, I would be gaining weight rather than losing it (my HRM said 251 calories for my 45 minutes of work, while MFP said something very crazy like 1750 for the same 45 minutes of zumba, this is probably because MFP makes the incorrect assumption that I am in good shape and going full speed the whole 45 minutes when in reality I am out of shape and just learning the steps for zumba right now)0 -
I have a HRM that's connected to my Garmin GPS watch I use for runs. Obviously they're not *perfect* in determining how many calories you're burning, I like to use it in conjunction with my runs and workouts. The Garmin does ask you to program some details in about yourself (age, gender, how active you are, how often you workout, etc).
I find mine really helpful, but to each their own.0 -
YES. As everyone has said, they are really the only way to get an accurate indication of how many calories YOU are burning rather than some fictional average person. I notice that for a given activity, MFP was often way over on estimated calories and the equipment in my gym was quite a bit under!
They are still not perfect of course, the only thing they MEASURE is your heart rate so calorie burn is still an estimate based on that and some measurements you've put in, but get a decent brand like Polar and they are as close as you can really get.
What I have found surprisingly motivating is how much better my recovery time is now. Coming off a 15 minute run or cycle I see my heart rate drop back down much quicker than it used to which shows how much fitter I am getting.0 -
I have a HRM that's connected to my Garmin GPS watch I use for runs. Obviously they're not *perfect* in determining how many calories you're burning, I like to use it in conjunction with my runs and workouts. The Garmin does ask you to program some details in about yourself (age, gender, how active you are, how often you workout, etc).
I find mine really helpful, but to each their own.
Just a note - not every model of Garmin bases their calorie burns on heart rate, even if it has a HRM. You need to check the specs. Mine doesn't.0 -
Polar FT7 .... Wont leave home without it
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I have a HRM that's connected to my Garmin GPS watch I use for runs. Obviously they're not *perfect* in determining how many calories you're burning, I like to use it in conjunction with my runs and workouts. The Garmin does ask you to program some details in about yourself (age, gender, how active you are, how often you workout, etc).
I find mine really helpful, but to each their own.
Just a note - not every model of Garmin bases their calorie burns on heart rate, even if it has a HRM. You need to check the specs. Mine doesn't.
^^ Good point. I should have been more specific - mine is the Garmin Forerunner 210. Great little watch for the runner who isn't too tech-obsessed, but probably overkill for someone who literally just wants to see HR and caloric burn.0 -
Worth every penny.
I got a Polar FT4. I love it. I use it walking, hiking and during Aqua Zumba.
When I first discussed getting one with my husband, he immediately said no. I was pretty disappointed. But later that day after he came home from work, he told me he did some research on HRM's and asked reddit their opinions, and he agreed it would definitely be a benefit to me. So I bought it that night. He likes to surprise me like that. LOL!
But yeah, sooooooooooo worth it.0 -
For sure. I was using the MFP counts for burned calories. It is different than what my Polar FT4 shows. And now I can totally see how much the lifting is burning too. I was only counting my calories for cardio. Now I can see from start of workout to finish. And it helps encourage me to do better.0
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Worth every penny... I own 2 of the Chest Strap HRM's which are great if you use your phon to link it up... I often find that if I had a big lunch and a snack and say I have 200 calories left, I know how many calories I have to burn for the RIGHT to eat a dinner and I always make sure I leave extra...
I would say for the $60 it costs (Polar H7 HRM) and a food scale for $20 you need both of these to get to the real truth on what you eat and what your bruning while working out...0 -
For sure. I was using the MFP counts for burned calories. It is different than what my Polar FT4 shows. And now I can totally see how much the lifting is burning too. I was only counting my calories for cardio. Now I can see from start of workout to finish. And it helps encourage me to do better.
A HRM is not accurate for lifting.
http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=750 -
I would not do Insanity without an HRM.
Before I had one, I was getting "chest pains" as I pushed it... I did not know why. I bought and HRM and set it up and discovered it was because I was pushing beyond the 100% HR I was supposed to try to stay under. With the HR, I stay safe and I also stop slacking off. If I think "I can't do this! I'm dying!" and the HR says i'm being a wimp, I dig deeper!
I dont count cals, but I do look at my HRM afterwards to get an idea of how hard I worked that session. If its under 600 cals, I know I was a slacker!0 -
I've lost 169 lbs without one. Never have i used one, never will i get one. If you follow a good diet plan, workout regularly,then I say , just save your money. But like the other guy said, whatever floats your boat,0
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Polar FT7 checking in.
I love it.0 -
Oh and my HRM is a £20 ($30?) supermarket special. It works fine. Will only last a year or so unlike a Polar, but its cheap and effective.0
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I like mine for 2 reasons.
On a day when I feel more tired than usual I can start to think that I'm working harder than normal. A quick glance at the monitor shows if that is true or not. I know a good day for me (for example) is a pace that keeps me between 165 and 170. If on one day I start to feel like I am dragging i can look down and see where I am at. If it reads 150 bpm or even the other way at 180 It is a reminder to check other things like my form or my breathing. I have problems with my knees and lower back, so form is real important, and at times I can get lost in the music or something and not realize poor form until it is too late and then I hurt the rest of the day.
The other reason is that it is a good tool. But a tool alone. Just like your digital scale at home, neither is 100% accurate. But if you are a tad OCD like me it is good to have an actual number to write down when tracking my improvement rather than a "feeling" of doing better or worse. If the same running course burns fewer calories on the monitor when measured a couple weeks apart, then I have a good indicator of my improvement. Of course that only works while we are building and improving. We can also then compare different courses for which one does require more exertion over another. I don't remember moment to moment things like direction or altitude change. So It can help me decide on an easier or more difficult course as I get ready to leave the house.0 -
Absopositively.0
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SIGH. how do you explain to a man with abs like that that some of us have to use every weapon available?I don't really see the point, but whatever floats your boat.0 -
YES! I'm early in this journey. But, it is one of the best tools that I have purchased. Highly recommend the Polar FT4.0
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thank you person who posted this...I was just asking my MFP friends the exact same thing and decided I would have a look at the forums and there was you question!!! Thanks to all of you who responded!!0
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I don't really know how accurate the "science" is behind HRM's, but I find it to be a really useful tool and this is why: for no other reason than (for me) it is a real time indicator of whether I am dogging it or having a good workout. And I can strictly tell that just by where my heart rate is at different point of my workout.
So for example, I do P90X - if I am not hitting 160-165 on the HRM after Jump Knee Tucks, then I know I am dogging it, or (lately), my body is adapting and it might be time to introduce some new workout routines to the mix.
I don't think the calorie count is necessarily accurate, but it is a good base line to incorporate into my MFP daily numbers to keep myself on track...0 -
Emperor's New Clothes.
I know if I've worked out hard by being drenched in sweat. I don't eat the exercise calories back cause I want to lose weight, I'd rather spend the money on an awesome pair of running shoes.0 -
on a serious note, my HRM has made me increase my activity. I strapped in when I was shoveling snow last winter.... finished my driveway,, checked the monitor and I didn't burn enough calories to make me feel good, so I did my neighbor's driveway too. I was just gonna clear him a path to get to the mail box but ended up doing his whole drive and the total was a really good calorie burn. For t hose of us , what's our word, less-motivated people....kinda lazy..... it helps..... (I've also started cutting the grass on his back hill because of my HRM...)0
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I used my HRM today for the first time in 6 months. Sure it tells me my heart rate, but I'm not that impressed by it.
What I do love is my FitBit - I wear it all day every day.0 -
I just bought one myself but only because I saw the one I now use. If you are in the UK every now and then Lidl and Aldi sell them at incredible prices.
I got the crivit from Lidl for £12.99 and even after a few days I wouldn't want to do without it. I measured mine against the readings on gym equipment and it gave readings within 1 or 2 BPM for my heart rate at all levels and the calorie burn reading was almost spot on as well.
It has shown me that walking calories in particular on MFP are way over estimted0 -
Worth every penny... I own 2 of the Chest Strap HRM's which are great if you use your phon to link it up... I often find that if I had a big lunch and a snack and say I have 200 calories left, I know how many calories I have to burn for the RIGHT to eat a dinner and I always make sure I leave extra...
Hahah. Same here. Sometimes I don't feel like doing Monday night Zumba but with being so close to being successful in my calorie goal for the day if I just attend, I go to EARN my dinner and work as hard as I need to so I get that burn
If you're a numbers person, it's definitely a cool gadget. No guesses, you just know the actual numbers and can make the necessary equations work out. I love checking my heart rate after a particularly challenging sequence and seeing it in the high 180s or low 190s
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I hear nothing but good things about them, honestly its not within our budget to get one at this time but its on my WANT list thats for sure.0
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