Question!!!

krystonite

Everyone says that once you get an HRM you'll see that you burn less calories than the machines tell you. Well I did H.I.T on the treadmill for 30 minutes and the machine says I burned 200 calories whereas my HRM says I burned 375!!!! Can that be right???? That seems a bit high for just 30 minutes on a treadmill.

staceyseeger

bump

aippolito1

High intensity is a different story. When I run, the treadmill usually says I'm burning 30 less calories than I really was. Elliptical was always saying I burned more than I really was... CrossRamp is pretty accurate because it posts your calories per minute burn and you can just add it up and subtract your BMR from it.

I find it depends on the actual activity itself.

TeaBea

One thing a heart rate monitor will measure that the machine can't is your exertion level. I would say the HRM is more accurate than the machine. The machine is using defaults or some type of "average" calories burned.

JeanWalker109

It could be right. Sure! Every person has different body mechanics, so it's really hard to give an accurate answer. For some, the machine may give an accurate number - depending on if accepts weight & height as a part of the calculation. But really, no one knows for certain. Still, 200 or 375...you got some burnage (yes, I made that word up all by myself) goin' on. Be proud!!!

*smiles*

Jean

Coltsman4ever

Did you put all your info in the HRM? Age, weight, height? If so, I guess I would believe it.
Also, does your treadmill allow you to enter weight and age? If so, try that and see if it makes a difference in the reading.

lizsmith1976

I think that number is certainly possible, but does sound a bit high, or at least it would be for me I think. I do HIIT on a bike and an elliptical and burn about 500 calories in 45 minutes at my weight - 125. If you are doing longer intervals at the high intensity (I do 20 seconds and get to 160-170) and keeping your heart rate higher in the recovery period (I do 10 seconds and try to breathe it down to below 140) then I would listen to the HRM.

krystonite

Did you put all your info in the HRM? Age, weight, height? If so, I guess I would believe it.
Also, does your treadmill allow you to enter weight and age? If so, try that and see if it makes a difference in the reading.

My HRM only lets me input my weight (to my knowledge). The machine lets me input my weight as well. Neither account for age nor height. It's just such a large discrepancy. I could see if my HRM said, say, 250, and the machine says 200... but 375 opposed to 200 is a big gap.

KMSForLife

My HRM always reads higher than the machine. My HRM allows me to enter my personal data - the treadmill does not.

krystonite

I think that number is certainly possible, but does sound a bit high, or at least it would be for me I think. I do HIIT on a bike and an elliptical and burn about 500 calories in 45 minutes at my weight - 125. If you are doing longer intervals at the high intensity (I do 20 seconds and get to 160-170) and keeping your heart rate higher in the recovery period (I do 10 seconds and try to breathe it down to below 140) then I would listen to the HRM.

I do 2 minutes of running, followed by 2 minutes of walking. I make sure it's on an incline of at least 1.0 and at least three times during the workout boost the incline to 3.0. The speed I jog on is between 5.8 and 6.3.

My HRM also said that I got up to a heart rate of 171... even that seems off and too high.

Coltsman4ever

Did you put all your info in the HRM? Age, weight, height? If so, I guess I would believe it.
Also, does your treadmill allow you to enter weight and age? If so, try that and see if it makes a difference in the reading.

My HRM only lets me input my weight (to my knowledge). The machine lets me input my weight as well. Neither account for age nor height. It's just such a large discrepancy. I could see if my HRM said, say, 250, and the machine says 200... but 375 opposed to 200 is a big gap.

I would tend to go with the HRM since it calculates calories burned, off your heart rate. You should be able to enter age also, depending on your HRM. All the ones I've used, cheaper models or more expensive ones have all allowed at least age and weight. Your age makes a big difference in the amount of calories you burn.

krystonite

Did you put all your info in the HRM? Age, weight, height? If so, I guess I would believe it.
Also, does your treadmill allow you to enter weight and age? If so, try that and see if it makes a difference in the reading.

My HRM only lets me input my weight (to my knowledge). The machine lets me input my weight as well. Neither account for age nor height. It's just such a large discrepancy. I could see if my HRM said, say, 250, and the machine says 200... but 375 opposed to 200 is a big gap.

I would tend to go with the HRM since it calculates calories burned, off your heart rate. You should be able to enter age also, depending on your HRM. All the ones I've used, cheaper models or more expensive ones have all allowed at least age and weight. Your age makes a big difference in the amount of calories you burn.

It's a pretty decent HRM too. I read the manual thoroughly as well and definitely didn't see anything about age. I'll look again though.

Would be pretty cool if this entire time I thought I was only burning 200 calories I was in fact burning over 300.

Bamacraft

Average HR? Average pace?

krystonite

Average HR? Average pace?

average heart rate 151... don't know average pace.

ladybug1620

Does it have a chest strap?

I think most decent HRMs should account for age, sex, and weight. All of these matter. It's kind of hard to say if yours only accounts for weight.

arc918

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

krystonite

Does it have a chest strap?

I think most decent HRMs should account for age, sex, and weight. All of these matter. It's kind of hard to say if yours only accounts for weight.

Yeah it has a chest strap. Maybe I didn't wet the sensors enough.

krystonite

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

arc918

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

not sure how much you weigh, but I weigh ~ 175 and I burn ~ 130 or calories per mile

for 2 miles I can't burn much more than 260

krystonite

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

not sure how much you weigh, but I weigh ~ 175 and I burn ~ 130 or calories per mile

for 2 miles I can't burn much more than 260

I weigh 128 and am 5'7".

Bamacraft

sorry, i missed your earlier post somehow. I could see running a 3% incline at 5.8-6.3 and hitting 171 HR and would take the HRM estimate over the treadmill. I would recommend alternating your 2 min intervals by 5 & 7mph or 6mph at 0% and 6mph at 3%. I do a 10 min warm up then jog @ 5.5mph, run at 8mph, alternating for 10 minutes, then 5.5mph for 2min and bump to 8.5 to 9mph for 2 min. i do this for another 10 minutes and then finish with a cool down. I sometimes play with incline at slower speeds. with all the factors to count calories i would assume the HRM to be more accurate. i think weight, intesity, distance and time are the more important factors as compared to age and sex, although both are important. Age and sex has a bit more to do with muscle and body compostion assumptions (which are usually valid).

Also, careful how many times per week you do these workouts. they are very taxing and can lead to overtraining if not careful.

arc918

My $.02: at 128 lbs you are hard pressed to burn more than 100 or so per mile.

I think 375 sounds way too high unless you had covered ~ 3.5 miles.

krystonite

sorry, i missed your earlier post somehow. I could see running a 3% incline at 5.8-6.3 and hitting 171 HR and would take the HRM estimate over the treadmill. I would recommend alternating your 2 min intervals by 5 & 7mph or 6mph at 0% and 6mph at 3%. I do a 10 min warm up then jog @ 5.5mph, run at 8mph, alternating for 10 minutes, then 5.5mph for 2min and bump to 8.5 to 9mph for 2 min. i do this for another 10 minutes and then finish with a cool down. I sometimes play with incline at slower speeds. with all the factors to count calories i would assume the HRM to be more accurate. i think weight, intesity, distance and time are the more important factors as compared to age and sex, although both are important. Age and sex has a bit more to do with muscle and body compostion assumptions (which are usually valid).

Also, careful how many times per week you do these workouts. they are very taxing and can lead to overtraining if not careful.

I'm definitely going to switch up my intervals now that I'm gaining more stamina. And I only do H.I.I.T 2 - 3 times a week. Alternating with strength training.

I appreciate your feedback (and everyone else as well). Regardless if I'm burning 5 calories or 375, hey, at least it's something lol

krystonite

My $.02: at 128 lbs you are hard pressed to burn more than 100 or so per mile.

I think 375 sounds way too high unless you had covered ~ 3.5 miles.

Right?! That's what I thought. I wonder what's wrong with my HRM... it's new.

Bamacraft

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

At an average of 6mph (appx) for 30 minutes you should be at 3 miles. My earlier post i misunderstood and thought you held that HIIT for 30 minutes. For 2 miles i'd have think the HRM calories may be too high. Compare your HR manually to what its readings are to see.

krystonite

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

At an average of 6mph (appx) for 30 minutes you should be at 3 miles. My earlier post i misunderstood and thought you held that HIIT for 30 minutes. For 2 miles i'd have think the HRM calories may be too high. Compare your HR manually to what its readings are to see.

6.0 only when I'm jogging, then I drop down to walking at 3.8 and then boost back up to 6.0.

arc918

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

At an average of 6mph (appx) for 30 minutes you should be at 3 miles. My earlier post i misunderstood and thought you held that HIIT for 30 minutes. For 2 miles i'd have think the HRM calories may be too high. Compare your HR manually to what its readings are to see.

6.0 only when I'm jogging, then I drop down to walking at 3.8 and then boost back up to 6.0.

6.0 = 10 minute miles. Even if you did the entire 30 minute run at that pace, you probably wouldn't burn 375. At my size, I burn ~ 375 for 3 miles.

krystonite

How far did you end up running in those 30 minutes?

Little over 2 miles.

At an average of 6mph (appx) for 30 minutes you should be at 3 miles. My earlier post i misunderstood and thought you held that HIIT for 30 minutes. For 2 miles i'd have think the HRM calories may be too high. Compare your HR manually to what its readings are to see.

6.0 only when I'm jogging, then I drop down to walking at 3.8 and then boost back up to 6.0.

6.0 = 10 minute miles. Even if you did the entire 30 minute run at that pace, you probably wouldn't burn 375. At my size, I burn ~ 375 for 3 miles.

Well that sucks. Maybe I didn't wet the sensors enough? Blargh.

Coltsman4ever

What brand and model is your HRM?

Kilter

Is an average HR of 151 high for you though and indicative of a lot of exertion? Regardless of speed and distance, if you had to work hard to get your body to cover the ground you are going to have burned more calories than someone else for whom that distance and speed would not cause exertion.

Did it feel like you were working hard?

If your treadmill has a HR sensor in the handle, you might want to try running a couple of minutes (with your HRM) and then going to a walk and checking your HR on the treadmill, see if it agrees with what your HRM says. I expect that your HRM would be a couple of beats higher and more accurate. If it is way off though, perhaps your HRM is pooched. If you did not have good contact (wet enough) on the HRM I would expect you to get lower HR not higher.

@3.5 miles in 30 minutes on a treadmill I burn a bit more than 500 calories. But I weigh considerably more (205) and run pretty regularly. My HR averages about 155 during that exertion level.

S

krystonite

What brand and model is your HRM?

Timex