HRM burn vs MFP burn

webdiva1

I've been using a Polar FT4 for a couple of months and I *really* like it ... now that I've gotten past the difference between what it tells me I burn vs. what MFP says. Here's a real-world example.

Last night I walked 4 mi. in 1:26 for a burn of 389, according to my HRM.

If I'd entered 1:26 at 3.0 mph in MFP, the burn would have been 789. 789!! I wish. It'd be so swell to enter 789 in MFP, but I stick with the HRM reading because, as virtually every forum post on the forum confirms, HRMs are way more accurate.

Before I got my HRM, I'd usually eat back a good number (sometimes all) of those exercise calories ... which in hindsight, wasn't what I should have been doing. Right? Because me, myself and I didn't burn as many calories as MFP said I did. I'm thinking that's what stalled me out there for a while. Make sense? Am I thinking about this right, or am I missing something?

I've still got a long of pounds to lose, so not everyone will have the same experience. Just wondering if any of you hard-core types have any insights to share about this. If nothing else, maybe it will convince others about the value of getting an HRM. I LOVE MFP; it has helped me change so much in my life for the better. But I'll stick with my HRM when it comes to calories burned during exercise.

cathyAprice

I'm with you! I have a heart condition so my heart medicine, because it works, doesn't allow my heart rate to get to a normal peak like others so I burn less calories. And everyone's body chemistry is different--metabolism, medical conditions, etc so I would definitely invest in a HRM. I got a Timex on Amazon for $40 but Polar is the best

www.cathyprice.net

dad106

I have the FT7 but when I didn't and used MFP or the machine at the gym, I still lost weight.

As you say though, everyone is different.. I don't have as much to lose as some people on this site do, so I prob. could have kept using the machines/MFP and have been fine.

I just got the FT7 to primarily use during my personal training sessions... but now i'm addicted and use it all the time!

jamantha

I do thnk MFP overestimtes, but I just looked up 86 mins walking at 3mph and it said 482 calories. I was under the impression that that rate burned about 100 clories a mile, so a little over what I'd have guessed, and more than your HRM but nothing like your quoted MFP estimate.