Heart Rate Monitors!

Saffyra

I mentioned on my wall that I have asked for a heart rate monitor for Christmas.

I had specifically asked for the Polar FT7 but then got to noticing that many people have the Polar FT4 and like it.

I would like to know what you guys think of the one you have (no matter what it is) and what are some of the positives and the negatives of each.

I would like to know if the strap is comfortable, if the numbers are easy to see, has it really helped you, and what exactly did it help you with.

My main goal is to see how many calories I *really* burn during my workouts. I'm also hoping that it will monitor how hard I'm working when at work. I can't tell if I'm underestimating my calories for workdays or not.
Is this something a heart rate monitor can do? And/or does it only register properly when your heart rate is up? Certain portions of my job really get my heart rate up for about a period of two hours but I'm not running on a treadmill or anything and I'm HOPING it will give me an accurate calorie burn for that.

Ive heard that heart rate monitors arent accurate for weight lifting and I dont know why that is. Anyone super knowledgeable and can help me on that point?

Otherwise, opinions please!!

bonjour24

i had a polar f6, and now use a polar ft40. both of the watches are great- they both count cals, and are spot on with exercise times, and read your heart rate and tell you what 'zone' you're in (ie fat burning vs cardio). i like the ft40 because mid workout i can push a button and see the actual time, which i couldn't do with the old one.

TBH, i think you can get any polar hrm and for it to be fabulous. the only thing i have had issues with are the straps that go around the chest. the older ones have this big rigid plastic strap. it was so uncomfortable for me i'd wear it over my boobs rather than underneath, which would affect the readings at times. and on long runs it chafed and gave me blisters. so now i have a newer soft strap, which is really comfy- don't even know it's there. so whatever you go for, make sure the strap is a soft one.

hrm's accurately monitor your pulse, and from that work out how many calories you're expending. with weights, your muscles go on burning long after you've lifted. so you will get a precise cal burn for the duration of the exercise (whatever that may be), but as soon as you turn it off it stops monitoring.

i LOVE my hrm- i find it really motivating. it records that last 14 episodes of exercise into the watch memory, with the cals burned, lowest hr, highest hr, time in specific zones, etc. it's also helped me by telling me exactly how much work it is to burn off that biscuit. and i find it motivating to see the cals burned ticking up throughout my run.

and my watch is nice enough to wear as an everyday watch too. it's got big numbers, a light, date and time. and you can wear the whole contraption underwater.

the annoying thing about the groups function is that i've had to keep on editing my post to try and asnwer the questions you asked, because i cannot see what you've written below my screen (remember how in the forums the most recent posts would just pop up underneath? well, that clearly doesn't happen anymore!).

Saffyra

Do they work even if you're not exercising? I was thinking about taking it to work and having it on to see if I'm really sedentary or not. I dont sit around, I walk back and forth and then have bouts of activity that make me sweat. But when I'm not doing the hard work, I'm just kinda moseying around.
Do they ONLY work when your heart rate is elevated?

I'm just curious. I'm still getting one (my husband has no imagination with gifts:D) but I'd never even heard of them til I joined this site.

I can see your post (they must have fixed that part) but I cant find the Edit button anywhere!!

bonjour24

if you wear the strap it will just monitor what it is your heart is doing- you could be lay still or jumping about like an idiot, and the monitor works the same. it just keeps track of your heart rate. you do with that information what you want!

i can see the previous posts now too, and the edit button's gone!

ETA- edit button found! it only comes on once you've posted! which makes sense now that i think of it. XD

SpitfireStacey

I apparently have a HRM that I didn't know was in this house. I want to start using it but I have some questions:

Can I wear it over my sports bra or does it have to have contact with the skin?
Has anyone heard of Puls Tech brand? Any comments?

Of course we've been playing with it and now dh has broken the bloody watch! It's just blank and beeping at us... whoops....

Iheartsushi

I apparently have a HRM that I didn't know was in this house. I want to start using it but I have some questions:

Can I wear it over my sports bra or does it have to have contact with the skin?
Has anyone heard of Puls Tech brand? Any comments?

Of course we've been playing with it and now dh has broken the bloody watch! It's just blank and beeping at us... whoops....

I believe its best to have contact with the skin. I wear mine under the boobs on my skin but the back strap I place a little bit slightly over my sports bra so that it doesn't slip when my skin get sweaty. I'm only familiar with Polar brand!

alanaosu

The FT40(f) is a brilliant HRM. Make sure you get the F version as it's smaller for a girl. I don't honestly think you'll need the extra functions on the FT60 and yes, you can wear it at work. Chest straps must be in contact with the skin and moist before you put them on (wet the bit behind the sensor that contacts your skin).