Do I REALLY need a HRM (Heart Rate Monitor)?????

c2sky

also, please read this article from the American Council on Exercise

http://www.acefitness.org/blog/39/i-ve-heard-that-performing-aerobic-workouts-at-a/

beccarockslife

It realy depends. some people have great success with them. But I have been doing well just using the estimate that MFP provides. I think as you get closer to your goal it can help you really focus in on your calorie range, especially when the weight loss slows down.

I have found this to be true also! MFP is shockingly accurate!

Really? I have found it shockingly inaccurate, it doesn't consider your weight at all when calculating it. Machines in the gym are always about 1/3 over what my HRM tells me as well.

beccarockslife

I think I may be even more confused now. lol

I like the idea that I "don't need it". But the comments from people saying they "love" theirs is also appealing.
Oh boy. I don't know what to do. I would love to have a accurate description of calories burned.

http://www.amazon.ca/Polar-FT40M-Black-Monitor-90038870/dp/B0035XR43U/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1307215194&sr=8-3-fkmr0

amandavictoria80

Okay, I've lost 45 lbs since mid to late Dec without one. BUT, I really want one and think that it would be very very handy. You will know exactly what you can eat and exactly how much you've burned and what workouts are better and so on and so on....... I am trying to talk myself into splurging on one. I'd suggest it if you can afford it and want one. If not, just work your body hard. You do know your body better than anyone, so you know if you got a good workout. Like right now, sweat is pouring from my body because Jillian Michaels is a sadistic maniac. lol!!! Good luck

I have the same feelings about Jillian! LOL

amandavictoria80

I think I may be even more confused now. lol

I like the idea that I "don't need it". But the comments from people saying they "love" theirs is also appealing.
Oh boy. I don't know what to do. I would love to have a accurate description of calories burned.

http://www.amazon.ca/Polar-FT40M-Black-Monitor-90038870/dp/B0035XR43U/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1307215194&sr=8-3-fkmr0

Thanks so much. Although, I don't know if I am willing to spend that much. I was worried about spending $100.

withchaco

My plan: I'm getting a HRM, along with a VO2max/ HR max test, when I hit a long plateau. That way the purchase is more justified since it would take the guesswork out of trying to break through the plateau.

For now, I'm dropping my weight steadily, so I don't really need one at the moment.

Azdak

HRMs can be nice tools, but I have mixed feelings about saying they are "necessary".

First and foremost, the main use of an HRM is it's original intent--i.e. to monitor your heart rate performance during exercise. There is a lot of debate these days about whether we should teach clients perceived exertion or heart rate.

Perceived exertion--primarily based on breathing effort-- has been shown to be as accurate as heart rate monitoring. But it takes time to learn your body's signals and not everyone has the same ability to interpret those signals in an effective way.

IMO, the PROS of a heart rate monitor:

1. It can help people gauge their effort so that they are meeting the goals of their workouts. It can help you to "throttle down" on the easy days, push it on the hard days.

2. It can provide clear direction for someone who is just starting out, or who has a condition that requires that they not exceed a certain intensity threshold.

3. It can provide motivation, especially for someone who responds to data.

4. I think an HRM can be especially valuable for movement activities, such as mixed-movement classes. Because of the changes in movements and tempos, I think it is harder to use perceived exertion under these circumstances.

5. For use with interval training--HR can be important as a sign of recovery.

6. Recovery between workouts--this is mainly for more sophisticated models that measure R-R intervals.

7. Recognizing external stressors that might affect a workout. Example: you are doing your normal workout, but notice the your heart rate is noticeably higher. That could be due to thermal stress, onset of illness, fatigue, etc. I have had days where my HRM during a workout told me I was getting sick before I actually experienced the symptoms.

8. Tracking progress. If you are doing comparable workouts, average heart rate can be used to monitor improvements in fitness level.

The CONS of an HRM are:

1. There is a learning curve when starting to use an HRM. People who lack a basic understanding of HR response to exercise can find HRMs to be more confusing than helpful. I always stress that people using an HRM for the first time should just observe what they see for awhile before changing anything or reacting to the numbers.

2. HRMs work best when they are programmed with accurate setup information. The problem is that most people do not know their HRmax and it's not that easy to figure it out.

3. There is a lot of variability in the human heart rate response to exercise.Studies done to determine formulae for estimating HRmax usually have a standard of error of 10-12 bpm. That means that an individual can have an actual HRmax that is 25 or 30 beats above what the HRM estimates and still be "normal". This is further complicated by the fact we are learning that HRmax likely does NOT decrease with age as much as was previously thought. As the cohort of individuals who have been exercising at high levels for 20, 30, 40 years has increased, we are finding that maintaining a vigorous training program can maintain your HR max as well. So that is another confounding factor.

Overall, there are more pros than cons, but I tell very few people that they "need" a heart rate monitor.

I have not mention calories at all. That's another subject in itself. Suffice to say that all of the variability factors I mentioned earlier affect the accuracy of calorie counts as well. As I have mentioned in my blog, if the calorie count feature is the most important one to you, then your choices are extremely limited, and even the "good" choices have some significant limitations.

JulieBoBoo

That is a good point. I do have a write BP monitor that also measures my heart rate. While I know many wrist monitors aren't considered terribly accurate, I have calibrated mine against my GPs several times and found it to be spot on.

I do try to get most of my exercise in daily activity and not actual "work outs" so I don't know how I feel about walking around with one while I'm cleaning or strapping it on to bike to the kids' school. Something to consider for later tho. Thanks for your reply and insight.

healthyjen342

I think I may be even more confused now. lol

I like the idea that I "don't need it". But the comments from people saying they "love" theirs is also appealing.
Oh boy. I don't know what to do. I would love to have a accurate description of calories burned.

I was in this same predicament a few months ago..I wanted to get a more accurate description of my "Calories out"...I was working on the whole "calories in vs. calories out" theory...so I figured if I was positively accurate with my calories in...I should be just as accurate with my calories out...I also have the Polar FT7 and I love it..It is a great tool, and honestly one of the best purchases I have made this year in regards to weightloss..I dont pay attention to the fat burn zone vs. fitness zone..it's not like the calories would be any different...I've read that was a big gimmick in the first place...

Do I NEED the watch? no..I lost my first 68 lbs without it...Do I LOVE the watch? Yes...Its one of the best tools I have..

c2sky

I think I may be even more confused now. lol

I like the idea that I "don't need it". But the comments from people saying they "love" theirs is also appealing.
Oh boy. I don't know what to do. I would love to have a accurate description of calories burned.

Oh drat, didn't mean to confuse you more. A heart rate monitor can be an easier way to guage variations in exertion. So that is the biggest plus. All I was saying, was to try to figure out how hard you are working on a scale of 1-10, and then see how it compares to what your heart rate monitor says.

torregro

Love my heart rate monitor and chest strap (New Balance N4 for women).
The calorie burns listed on MFP were much too high for me. I have a slightly erratic pulse, and the equipment at the gym (treadmill, elliptical, etc.) could never accurately pick up my heart rate so would give me artificially LOW results.
Now that I have my HRM, I get better information and I'm more assured that I'm working out where I should be.
Need it, no. But then again....I don't actually *need* a gym membership or a treadmill or free weights or work out dvds either. LOL
$69 at Target, and like others have said, don't waste your time getting one without a chest strap. Good luck!