Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor + Watch

glbrocks
glbrocks Posts: 37
in Fitness and Exercise
I just purchased a Polar FT4 today as part of my exercise and workouts. I tested it out today by doing some interval running around my neighborhood for 15 minutes. It claims that I burned 170 calories (not sure how accurate that is). Does anyone on here have this device and use it all the time?

Replies

  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Tons of people do.

    Since the cheaper Polar's are missing a key stat (VO2max) to allow decent calorie estimates (not measured, calculated), here is a test you can do if you have a treadmill, or known distance.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/774337-how-to-test-hrm-for-how-accurate-calorie-burn-is

    And so you know, the formula that tie HR to a calorie burn is only valid for steady-state aerobic cardio, so same HR for 2-4 min. (that's how long it can take for HR to lower to truly match the effort you are doing, higher just prior to that was overkill inflated)

    Intervals is nothing but steady-state.
    And weight lifting is anaerobic if done right, and non-steady-state too.

    So you will get inflated calorie burns from both of those activities.

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