Should I get a HRM or No

IndyPokerDad

So here's my story:
I started this journey in September and since then I have lost 53lbs with out a HRM. I play with my calories monthly, but really it's a guess. It is currently set at 1800 but I use that as an average. On days I workout I eat around 2000. On days I don't workout I eat about 1700. I have another 25lbs or so to go and I know these last ones are going to be hard. I have hired a personal trainer for two times a week for the whole month of March. I think it might be use full for that. I have also started lifting weights with an ex bodybuilder who is starting to get back into it. In May, I'm hoping to focus more on hitting the weights.

So to my question, do you think I should get a heart rate monitor for the last 25lbs? I was looking at the FT7 or the FT4. Is it worth it for the last 25. Also, if I did get it, I don't know I could eat back my extra calories. If I keep doing the things I'm doing now, I have a fealing it is going to get harder to loose.

finchase

I got an HRM in September. I was appalled at the number of calories that it said I was burning. I knew MFP's estimate was ridiculously high, but I thought the machine that I was using was reasonable. Nope. According to my HRM I was only burning about half of what the machine said. I thought it was wrong for quite awhile, but after talking with a number of people, I was finally persuaded that I just hadn't been working as hard as I thought I was. That motivated me to increase the length and intensity of my workouts so that I get a better burn. The result has been that I am now in the best cardiovascular shape of my adult life and my weight loss has continued slowly but steadily.

So yes, I do think an HRM is a good investment. Try to get a good one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT7 and I can recommend that. I think all the Polar models are supposed to be pretty good.

WickedGarden

I got an HRM in September. I was appalled at the number of calories that it said I was burning. I knew MFP's estimate was ridiculously high, but I thought the machine that I was using was reasonable. Nope. According to my HRM I was only burning about half of what the machine said. I thought it was wrong for quite awhile, but after talking with a number of people, I was finally persuaded that I just hadn't been working as hard as I thought I was. That motivated me to increase the length and intensity of my workouts so that I get a better burn. The result has been that I am now in the best cardiovascular shape of my adult life and my weight loss has continued slowly but steadily.

So yes, I do think an HRM is a good investment. Try to get a good one with a chest strap. I have a Polar FT7 and I can recommend that. I think all the Polar models are supposed to be pretty good.

So, finchase, how close was MFP estimates to your HRM for calories burned?

godricshollow

Definitely. I went so long with overeating my calories! Plus the HRM motivates me to push myself harder. Today I was nearing the end of my workout and I only had 10 more calories to go until I hit the 200 mark, so I pushed myself further for it. It's a great motivation tool

Plus, I was really appalled by how much MFP overestimates!

penmosha

yes! I was given a FT6 as a Xmas gift and it has made a huge difference to my excercise. If you are going to purchase a Polar, try getting one that does have the ownzone programme. I find now when I go for a run or walk, I train harder. One downside is needing to purchase the flowlink device to upload your data.

SammyPacks

I say if you have the money, go for it... I really wish I could afford a nice one!

RockChick1984

I agree... i myself own a Polar FT7.. and what a difference it has made to my life... its amazing!!!

FionaAnne22

I got a cheapish HRM from a local supermarket (tesco) over a week ago and its really helped my workouts. MFP wasn't actually overestimating mine that hugely, which tells me I have been working out pretty hard, it was slightly over, but I would rather have a more exact estimate of my exercise...so far its been great, and for the price its amazing!

highgear

The first 8-9 months I used MFP estimates, then I leveled off. I purchased a Timex road trainer with HRM to track my runs and found the MFP estimates were way generous. I then progressed to a Garmin 310XT, to support running, biking, an weight lifting and their new algorithm (which is suppose to be very accurate) has me burning even fewer calories. Part of this is because as I have leaned out, and become more fit my caloric expendature has decreased. However using the Garmin 310XT has really allowed me to nail my caloric maintenance level.

To illustrate the point, on days where exercise periods exceed 2-3 hours, any variance in caloric burn rate can cause enormous errors in weekly caloric needs. Example: I run a 5K to work and back home again every day. MPF states running at 8.5 mpm pace for 27 minutes burns 475 calories, whereas the garmin shows 325. That is a 300 calorie a day difference, not to mention the added calories from my weekly long run. If I eat my calories back to maintain my weight, using MFP's estimates, every week I would put on a pound!

MFP's estimates are just that...estimates. Once you plateau, I would suggest a HRM.

Segrande

Definitely get an HRM, it really helped me estimate my calories more closely. The MFP database and exercise machines at the gym over estimate my calorie burns by quite a bit so it was better for me to know exactly how many calories I'd burnt during my exercise session using an HRM. I have the Polar FT40 and FT7, I'd recommend the FT7 because it's cheaper and works just as well as the FT40. I don't really use the extra features on my FT40 so it's kinda just lying around unused atm, as a spare.

lambertj

If you have the money I say get one. I just got the Polar 4 and I love it. I had been going by the machine number of calories burned and I always seem to burn higher. Its great to see plus it does push you harder to see those numbers go up. Now instead of aiming for so many work outs a week, I aim for calories burned a week. Definitely worth the money

Tara4boys

I love my HRM and it is a big motivator. I like to do lots of different types of exercise and it really helps. I also love to do intervals and they would be very hard to judge on MFP calculator. And yes MFP is Waaaaaaaaaaaaay high. The machines at my new gym are pretty close to my HRM but they also pick up my HR the whole time since I'm wearing the chest strap. Not sure they would be so accurate if I didnt' have chest strap on.

But for YOU... it sounds like you've made tremendous progress and aren't really eating back a ton of exercise calories - if that's the case... you may not need one.