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HRM vs. Database calories burned....

Nonibug
Nonibug Posts: 1,214 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, I got the Polar F4 for christmas. I started wearing it about a week ago during my exercise sessions and Ive noticed that the calories burned seem to be less than what I was previously recording that I was getting right out of the database. For example, the same circuit training workout that Ive done many times for about 45 mins used to give me around 700 calories burned (according to the database). Now that Im wearing my HRM, when I finish that SAME workout, my HRM tells me that Ive only burned between 350-450 calories. So was I way over-estimating my burned calories before when I was entering what the database said? What do you guys do? Do i manually put in what my HRM says Im burning? That was such a disappointment of a realization for me:cry: Thanks for your input guys!:flowerforyou:

Replies

  • Nonibug
    Nonibug Posts: 1,214 Member
    Ok, I got the Polar F4 for christmas. I started wearing it about a week ago during my exercise sessions and Ive noticed that the calories burned seem to be less than what I was previously recording that I was getting right out of the database. For example, the same circuit training workout that Ive done many times for about 45 mins used to give me around 700 calories burned (according to the database). Now that Im wearing my HRM, when I finish that SAME workout, my HRM tells me that Ive only burned between 350-450 calories. So was I way over-estimating my burned calories before when I was entering what the database said? What do you guys do? Do i manually put in what my HRM says Im burning? That was such a disappointment of a realization for me:cry: Thanks for your input guys!:flowerforyou:
  • AJCM
    AJCM Posts: 2,169 Member
    Sorry to hear about this sad situation.... I feel for you... :cry:

    I would always go with the heart rate monitor. The database are just estimations, while the Polar measures your constant heart rate, and calculates that information in conjunction with your height adn weight.
    :flowerforyou:
  • Nonibug
    Nonibug Posts: 1,214 Member
    Thanks for the advice. I kinda thought I should go with what my HRM says even though I would rather log the higher numbers:laugh: But I would rather under-estimate than over:flowerforyou:
  • Bobbie145
    Bobbie145 Posts: 331 Member
    I got a Polar F55 for Christmas, and I have had the opposite problem. My calories have been far too high according to the HRM, so I'm going with the database. There's no way I'm burning the number of calories it is giving me eventhough all of the info I have put in is accurate and the other measurements seem accurate. So, I think the sad truth is that we need to go with whatever the lower number is to be on the safe side. :cry: I have heard other HRM users have the same situation as you have encountered, so I don't think it is that uncommon. Aggravating, huh? :grumble:

    :heart:
    Bobbie
  • clewliss
    clewliss Posts: 640 Member
    I noticed that when I got my Polar, too! It puts things into a different perspective! Don't be disappointed though, because you were more than likely eating more calories than you should have been. thats what I was doing. Congratulations on your new HRM!! I love mine:heart:
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