do I really need a HRM??

aippolito1

YES, you need one. I was seriously overestimating calories burned without a HRM and then once I got one and figured out exactly what I was burning and started eating that back (and in turn eating a few hundred calories less than I was when I was overestimating), I started to lose weight again. It helps SO much. I never have to guess if my calorie count is right. I know it's just a guesstimate but it's so much better than MFP's calculations, any kind of internet calculator or a pedometer.

LuckyLeprechaun

Do you NEED one? No, you don't NEED it.

Will you benefit from it? Yes!

here are the ways I have benefited from getting one:

1. the machines at thegym were giving me too much credit for calories burned. I eat back my exercise calories, so this was reducing my accuracy. Nothing is 100% accurate, but now I know I'm closer.

2. Wearing it has motivated me to try a wider variety of activities, and push myself harder during those activities so I can see the numbers rack up. I have been inspired to bicycle further, walk faster, just push myself more because I can instantly see the correlation between higher heart rate and calorie burn.

ditto on the chest strap kind, vs. the finger kind. The strap is no more irritating than your bra. Also, get one that can go in the water with you. You'd be amazed at the calories you burn while swimming!!!

The kind I have (and really like) is made by Timex, and is marked "Ironman Triathlon" Hubby got it for me for Xmas, and it was approx. $90.