HRM for person with one arm

Michelle7897

Can someone recommend a heart rate monitor that doesn't require two hands? I can't use one that has to be around your wrist while you touch it with the fingers on your other hand. I only have one arm so any ideas are appreciated. I would prefer one that will tell me how many calories I burn.

Thank you!
Michelle

rainbowbuggy

I have the Polar FT4 and it has a chest strap and a watch but the watch does not require you to touch it before it will activate. Check Amazon as they sell them for a really good price.

scapez

Any chest strap HRM will do, Polar FT4 and FT7 are reliable models. I personally own the FT7.

kag1526

Could you use the chest strap kind? You still wear a watch but you don't need to touch it (the chest strap sends data).

Really you don't even HAVE to wear the watch but you have to keep it close enough to the chest strap or it doesn't work. (So you could say put it in your pocket if you wanted, it would just be harder to look at while you were working out)

Michelle7897

Awesome, thank you! :flowerforyou:

amymeenieminymo

What kind of work out are you doing? For running or walking, you could hold the watch in your hand (it doesn't necessarily have to be on your wrist, just close enough so it can communicate with the chest strap).

You could also lay the watch on the equipment, for example the treadmill, or wrap it around whatever machine you're on. I cannot think of one that would operate any other way.

Brandicaloriecountess

I have the Polar FT4 and it has a chest strap and a watch but the watch does not require you to touch it before it will activate. Check Amazon as they sell them for a really good price.

My FT4 does require you to touch it to start it. You have to push the button on the side to get a reading, then to start it once you get going.

I think you could put the strap on and start the watch, then put it on your arm possibly?>

jaimejean478

With the watch + chest strap (I have the Polar Ft4) it doesn't "just start" automatically, you do have to tell it when you're actually working out with a push of the button on the watch. However, you could easily modify and put in a pocket or on a pants loop. You don't have to be wearing it on you wrist.

zookeepersuzy

could you remove the watch band of a regular hrm and put it in a pocket/fuel belt or wear it as a necklace? My garmin 305 is pretty easy to operate with one hand when I have it strapped to my bike bc the buttons are fairly large and well spaced so that I dont fat-finger them.

AdrienneinTO

Maybe you could loop the watch on your waistband somehow, through a belt loop? That way you could still access the buttons when needed. I have a Polar FT40 with chest strap. Like many other types of HRM, you need to push a button to get it to find your heart rate at the beginning, and then again to start the timer.

Michelle7897

Thanks everyone! I wanted to use one for my treadmill, exercise bike, and when doing workouts on my wii or kinect. I think I will try one of the Polar models and put it in my pocket. If the button sticks out a little I could probably push it with my arm. What is the difference between the Polar ft7 and ft60? Is the difference worth the extra cost? Thanks!

rainbowbuggy

I have the Polar FT4 and it has a chest strap and a watch but the watch does not require you to touch it before it will activate. Check Amazon as they sell them for a really good price.

My FT4 does require you to touch it to start it. You have to push the button on the side to get a reading, then to start it once you get going.

I think you could put the strap on and start the watch, then put it on your arm possibly?>

Yes you can.

AdrienneinTO

What is the difference between the Polar ft7 and ft60? Is the difference worth the extra cost? Thanks!

From what people say, FT4 and FT7 are quite good at estimating how many calories you have burned based on your heart rate.

I have an FT40, and that one gives you a fitness test (VO2 max) that increases the accuracy of the estimate of how hard you are working (and therefore burning calories). I like to check my fitness levels every few weeks. FT40 also has more on the display. It always shows time elapsed at the bottom and you can scroll through heart rate/time of day/calories burned. I like my FT40 for both those features, and think it was worth the extra $.

I think FT60 also shows % of max heart rate, and designs some kind of a fitness program for you, based on your progress. That wouldn't be worth the extra $ for me, personally.

http://www.shoppolar.com/_polarususdenstore/cgi-bin/go.cgi/webstore/category?category=Fitness_and_Cross_Training

Michelle7897

Thank you for the details, that helps a lot! I think I am going to order the ft40.

Michelle7897

I went to Amazon to order the Polar FT40 but the FT60 was only about $13 higher so I ordered it instead. It should be here tomorrow. Thank you for all the great advice!

Blessings :flowerforyou:
Michelle

AdrienneinTO

Cool! Not much of a price difference, I agree, worth it! The fitness program feature should be interesting. I just hope it doesn't get too bossy, lol.

Do some searches on the forums about how to use an HRM properly. For example, it's only really accurate in estimating calories burned while your heart rate is elevated. Some people continue to wear it while sitting around, and then think they've burned 100 calories after watching TV for a half hour. And don't fret about the "zones" too much. If you can push yourself harder during your workouts and go past the "fat-burning" zone into the "fitness zone", do it. You *will* burn more calories and become more fit over time.