Do I trust...

imgone324

my heart rate monitor's calorie count? I bought a Polar FT7 several weeks ago. It seems to give me pretty accurate readings when I'm doing normal workouts like running or lifting weights, but when I do extendend activities outside I'm getting really high calorie counts. Example, I played 9 holes of golf yesterday, took just over 2 hours and the monitor told me I burned 1745 calories. Now it was like 90 degrees and I was soaked with sweat when I was done, but that number seems ridiculously high. The other day I mowed the lawn, about a 45 minute activity. My heart rate was over 165 for the whole 45 minutes and I burned over a 1000 calories. It seems to register really high readings when I'm in hot temperatures.

Anybody know what's going on or have one of these HRM's. I usually don't log all the calories because I can't believe I could actually be burning that many calories....

Any thoughts??

demonNIИ

I have the FT4 and I think it might be reading a bit low but acceptable...I never went over 600 yet during any type of session but I really really push myself every time

twinmama1987

Umm, that sounds a little 'generous' ... Mine seems accurate.. i will burn 600 cals in 50 min.. doing insanity... sometimes a little less/more...

SavCal71

I have the FT4 and I think it might be reading a bit low but acceptable...I never went over 600 yet during any type of session but I really really push myself every time

THIS.

LindseyDD

As long as you are wearing it right I think you should give yourself credit for all your hard work. I also have an FT7 and I average about 500 at the gym during a 1 hour workout - but the longer your heart rate is elevated the more calories you are going to burn. Wear it the next time you play golf and see if you get the same results. I burned over 700 at the gym today by adding an additional 25 minutes on cardio. Great job!

BigZ486

Your heart rate increases in hot temperatures, that's why.

jpeper1966

Anybody know what's going on or have one of these HRM's. I usually don't log all the calories because I can't believe I could actually be burning that many calories....

Any thoughts??

Your doing the right thing. High heat will throw off your calorie count because your heart rate is raised to cool your body, not to expell CO2.

One thing you can try is to start the monitoring AFTER being out in the heat for 10-15 minutes if you will be doing an extended workout. This will alow your base heartrate to be taken after your body is already cooling itself.

If I start my monitor inside an air conditioned house my base rate is 60. If I start it after being outside on a 90 degree day it may be over 100.

Shalimarmandy

Don't forget that in high temperature your body has to work harder to keep your body temperature regulated. This might be why you are getting high calorie burns.

I don't wear a heart monitor but when I do my yard work and use a calorie calculator that takes into account weight and time but NOT temperature I get in the upper 500s. I looked up my last yard work session and I logged 580 which included 30 minutes mowing and 40 minutes edging, weeding, ect. It was super hot so I'm sure I burned more but I only logged what the calculator said. I have also read several articles (some self help and fitness mags) that talk about chores burning more calories than pure exercise because so many different muscles are coming into play.

If it were me I would try and duplicate the golf game and yard work and see if the heart rate monitor came up with similar readings and then even try a different monitor (maybe borrow a friends).

Hope this helps some

Good luck!

demonNIИ

I have the FT4 and I think it might be reading a bit low but acceptable...I never went over 600 yet during any type of session but I really really push myself every time

THIS.

????

demonNIИ

THIS.

what do you mean by "THIS" ???