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HRM question

thenebean9
thenebean9 Posts: 216
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So over the weekend, I was at the local outlet mall in the watch store, buying hubby a watch, when I saw that they had last year's Timex Ironman HRM on sale for 70% off. I figured what the heck! So at zumba class on Monday, I gave it a try - it told me that in 45 minutes, I burned 761 calories! Last night, when teaching our hour long zumba class, it told me I burned 1200!! Now, I do work very hard in class, and really push myself to get as much workout as I possibly can, but I'm worried that perhaps it's off? I did set my weight and stuff so I know that's not the issue...any thoughts from other HRM users?

Thanks :D

Replies

  • ginnyroxx
    ginnyroxx Posts: 763
    it depends on my instructor. but in a super high paced class this past weekend, I burned close to 800 calories in a 65 set.
    so yeah...i think it's possible.

    eta: have you set it for your height/weight/ etc?
  • markymark39
    markymark39 Posts: 60
    sounds reasonable for 45 or 60 minutes of cardio. have you double checked it with the numbers here in the exercise section to see if its close using your height/weight? mine is usually close...maybe 100 calories off. i go with the HRM since it has the exact intensity of my workout rather than the average here on the website.
  • thenebean9
    thenebean9 Posts: 216
    Well, Zumba isn't an option under the pre-defined workouts on MFP, so I've been using Dance, Aerobic, Modern and Twist. It would tell me that for 45 minutes I was burning 318, which is a HUGE difference. Maybe that's been wrong all this time? I'm not sure...others would use High Impact Aerobics for Zumba, which puts me a bit closer to what my HRM is telling me...I just want to feel comfortable that the number is close, or right, and that when I eat some of my exercise calories, I'm not going too far over instead!
  • camille45
    camille45 Posts: 106 Member
    how much is the average HRM. Im wanting to get one but dont know enough about them and I want to get a quality one, but not pay too much
  • thenebean9
    thenebean9 Posts: 216
    how much is the average HRM. Im wanting to get one but dont know enough about them and I want to get a quality one, but not pay too much

    I got mine at the outlets - but I would guess that good ones go in the range of $100 or so...this is the one I got - you can find it on amazon for not too bad of a price...

    http://amzn.to/bq94GL
  • tgh1914
    tgh1914 Posts: 1,036 Member
    There's actually a good model for a good deal right now (today only, about half off). Many people on this site recommend Polar HRMs, which is what this one is. Give it a look.

    http://www.1saleaday.com/
  • ginnyroxx
    ginnyroxx Posts: 763
    I have a polar F6 and i love it :) I got a great deal on ebay!
  • JensLogin
    JensLogin Posts: 74
    I'm not familiar with the specific model you purchased; however, that seems a little high on the calorie burn. Is this a continuous heart rate monitor? I know the height and weight do make a difference, so maybe that is why it seems higher than what I would normally see on my HRM.

    I too work out very hard during my cardio sessions and would not see 1200 calories burned in a 60 minute session. But hey, I guess it is possible based on what others are saying here as well.

    Good luck to you - hope it continues to work out for you!
  • thenebean9
    thenebean9 Posts: 216
    I'm not familiar with the specific model you purchased; however, that seems a little high on the calorie burn. Is this a continuous heart rate monitor? I know the height and weight do make a difference, so maybe that is why it seems higher than what I would normally see on my HRM.

    I too work out very hard during my cardio sessions and would not see 1200 calories burned in a 60 minute session. But hey, I guess it is possible based on what others are saying here as well.

    Good luck to you - hope it continues to work out for you!

    The HRM I have does keep track of my heart rate throughout the workout - if that's what you mean by continuous heart rate monitor? It has the strap, and once I turn it on, it's telling me what my heart rate about every second. I guess we'll just go with it for now and see what happens! Any other advice is always appreciated :D

    Thanks everyone!!
  • binary_jester
    binary_jester Posts: 3,311 Member
    If it has a chest strap, that is a very reliable number. What I do though, is I take my base metabolism rate and break it down to what I burn per minute. Then I multiply that by the number of minutes worked out and subtract that from the calories my HRM said i burned. Then I am not double counting calories.
  • thenebean9
    thenebean9 Posts: 216
    If it has a chest strap, that is a very reliable number. What I do though, is I take my base metabolism rate and break it down to what I burn per minute. Then I multiply that by the number of minutes worked out and subtract that from the calories my HRM said i burned. Then I am not double counting calories.

    Oooh math! Can you give me an example of how you do all that? I've been counting it a little less on MFP than what it tells me, just in case...

    Thanks everyone for your thoughts!! This is very helpful to me, and I'm sure others who have HRMs :D
  • UpToAnyCool
    UpToAnyCool Posts: 1,673
    If it has a chest strap, that is a very reliable number. What I do though, is I take my base metabolism rate and break it down to what I burn per minute. Then I multiply that by the number of minutes worked out and subtract that from the calories my HRM said i burned. Then I am not double counting calories.

    smart and more accurate! thanks! :smile:
  • hels4397
    hels4397 Posts: 100 Member
    Ok so I took a shot at it...

    My BMR is 1852.

    So 1852/24 (hours in a day) = 77.16/60 (mins in a day) = 1.286 cals per minute

    Then multiply that by what we work out and minus it from HRM. :bigsmile:
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