heart monitor vs. machine

laurenrx
laurenrx Posts: 6 Member
edited October 5 in Fitness and Exercise
So I have read through the boards and expect most responses to be go with what the heart monitor says over the machine in terms of calories burned, but I'm wondering why?

I put in the same information to both the machine and the heart monitor (age and weight) and the machine picks up the heart monitors read out regarding how fast my heart is beating.... why do the calories burned vary so much? I have the polar FT7 and used it for the first time yesterday and the calories burned on the machine vs. monitor vary by 200. The life-fitness elliptical says that in 35 minutes of cardio workout (heart rate above 154) I burned 550 calories vs. the heart monitor saying I burned 350. For logging purposes I just split the difference and said 450 but I'm curious as to which is more accurate in your opinion.

This is merely to satisfy my curiosity vs. actual diet, I *try* to not eat all my exercise calories back.

Replies

  • drog2323
    drog2323 Posts: 1,343 Member
    the polar is more accurate

    the machine is just estimating as best as it can, with your weight etc. but the HRM takes in y our actual heart rate, your age, weight, etc (I think) right? so it's just giving you a better estimate than the machine.
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    I brought a FT7 a couple of weeks ago and it is fantastic.
  • laurenrx
    laurenrx Posts: 6 Member
    Yeah I really like it for non-gym exercise!
  • MisterDubs303
    MisterDubs303 Posts: 1,216 Member
    Does the documentation that comes with your HRM say anything about it subtracting the calories you would have been burning at rest during your workout based upon your RHR? I've always wondered that.
  • FitForLife81
    FitForLife81 Posts: 372 Member
    Yup I have the polar ft4 and when I do 30 mins my heartrate monitor says 200 and the elliptical says 540 that is a big difference! The HRM was my best purchase!
  • papastu
    papastu Posts: 737 Member
    trust the hrm imo

    :smile:
  • dcmat
    dcmat Posts: 1,723 Member
    Does the documentation that comes with your HRM say anything about it subtracting the calories you would have been burning at rest during your workout based upon your RHR? I've always wondered that.

    Some people will wear the HRM for a few hours at rest and divide the results down to get per minute and subtract this from their burn cals.

    Many people just don't bother ;-b
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