Tracking calories burned during exercise

kellesee
kellesee Posts: 53 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello,

I originally inquired about the FitBit. After reading about it, I see that it only counts steps. How do you count how many calories you burn during exercise. Counting steps during walking is one thing, but if I'm jumping and bouncing and all that, surely more calories are burned.

Is there some kind of something that tracks this?

Thanks,
Kelle

Replies

  • amyst92
    amyst92 Posts: 9 Member
    You should get a heart rate monitor. I bought one a few weeks back (the Polar FT4) and I LOVE it! Don't let the chest strap deter you. It's the only way to get an accurate heart rate, and once it's on you won't know it's there.
  • _Fly_
    _Fly_ Posts: 25 Member
    You should get a heart rate monitor. I bought one a few weeks back (the Polar FT4) and I LOVE it! Don't let the chest strap deter you. It's the only way to get an accurate heart rate, and once it's on you won't know it's there.

    +1
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,409 Member
    Even a heart rate monitor uses an estimation. However, some people find it motivates them to work a little harder or a little longer, and that makes it worth the money.

    If you do buy one, you will be better served with the chest strap.

    I have one - a Polar - and it was a fun toy for a while. I don't use it anymore - I just log 300 calories for every hour of moderate exercise I do. It works. It's kind of an expensive toy - I think I used it about ten times ($100).
  • ME0172
    ME0172 Posts: 200
    Buy a heart rate monitor that has a chest strap. They take into account your age, gender and heart rate to determine your calories burned. You can even get ones that will let you calibrate them by wearing it for a 24 hour period, to include your sleep, so it gets your resting heart rate. Nothing is 100% accurate, of coarse, but a HRM is the closest.
  • kellesee
    kellesee Posts: 53 Member
    Forgive me, but I am new.....

    So how does a heart rate monitor tell how many calories I burned? I guess I could google it.
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,409 Member
    Forgive me, but I am new.....

    So how does a heart rate monitor tell how many calories I burned? I guess I could google it.

    It doesn't - well, not all that well, anyway.


    Here is a good blog to read. The author has been in the fitness industry for decades:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
  • kellesee
    kellesee Posts: 53 Member
    Thanks! :happy:

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