Does an HRM help to motivate you?

Frumpy2Fit

Just ordered a Polar FT60 today. I'm really excited for it to get here and hoping that accurate calorie counts help to motivate me and keep me on the right track! Has anyone noticed that getting an HRM aided in their weight loss and helped to keep them motivated?

cekeys

It absolutely motivates me. It's so much better knowing you are getting better read on what you're actually burning. It's an awesome feeling when you're going hard and your heart's beating in your ears and your body says, "You can go harder!"

cowgirlslikeus86

Absolutely! I got mine 3 weeks ago and I feel like its super accurate and allows me to feel good about eating all my calories back after I have excercised. I also like seeing my average HR drop, on my runs, as I get more fit.

runnercheryl

Probably not the way you're expecting. I recently got mine. Before, I could only do exercises I could track elsewhere - Kinect games that counted calories, and walking and cycling using GPS sports trackers. I did that daily, and aimed to burn quite a bit, but it was monotonous choosing from one of three activities.

Now, because I can calculate the calories burned whatever I'm doing, I can keep myself active by running on the spot, bouncing around the house, doing all the things I used to do and much more. I've found I actually work out less on some days (today, I only burned 39 calories), but I'm perfectly happy doing so. I don't get bored as much now. It's also meant that, rather than aiming for a certain length of time cycling and doing it each evening aiming for a certain distance or burn, I might do a bit of exercise indoors then go on a leisurely bike ride at the weekend, just for fun. I'm considering going ice skating some time now, and I also want to try swimming when I'm a bit slimmer. I know I can't use the HRM for swimming, but now that I've started thinking about variety I've found the motivation to go.

I've always hated exercise, but I am getting into it more since I got my HRM and feel less restricted.

ShanRaeC

It TOTALLY motivates me! I am definitely a "numbers" gal. Numbers really motivate me, whether it is "run 5 miles" or "exercise for 90 minutes". I've really liked have another number to use. I will set it as a goal, for example, burn 600 calories, and I find that's great motivation. And, I really like having the HRM to know it's really accurate.

I hope you find the same for you!

junyr

Keeps me motivated knowing what level of working out I'm doing. The calorie counts come 2nd, to knowing that right intensity of the workout.

raisingbabyk

Absolutley!

samanthaleethomas

110% motivates me! I bought the Polar FT40 and absolutely love it. I actually wear it everywhere - walking, cleaning, snowboarding, not just working out because I love seeing those exercise numbers! It pushes you to beat the amount of calories you burned in previous workouts too.

Reckabek

U know what im worried about. I dont have one but want one, i am worried that when i put it on it will tell me i burned way less calories then mfp says i burned and i will get discoraged.and quit working out as much. However doing some excersises i feel i burn wayyyyy more then mfp says and maybe a hrm would be a positive thing! Its my next "want" item to save money for!

kritik

I definitely think that the HRM is a motivator. As I am working out, or running, I look to see how many calories I've burned. I find myself pushing harder and going further so that I can up that number. When I get home I might even kick out a few jumping jacks to bump that number a bit more!

dnnmccloud

I've only had mine for about a week. It sure does give you an extra push....plus one benefit is that you'll probably be more accurate with your eating....eating too little with a high calorie burn is a big no no!!! Good luck!

inchestopinch

Absolutely motivational! I found that once I got my HRM and compared to what the machines/MFP tells me I'm burning, I laugh! It's so much nicer to know what I am actually burning and stay more accurate!
Lately I've also been finding myself pushing harder when doing certain exercises to try and 'beat' my previous number of calories burned! Best investment yet!

Christine1110

I use a bodybugg all day, and I know how much I burn....in case I want something to eat I know if I have enough calories to have it, or I have to go without!


I workout with my HRM also....love them

LilSomethin

OMG YES!!! You will see how active u really are or maybe aren't. U may be disappointed with your actual calorie burn from exercise though since the amounts are inflated on here
I have had mine a year now and have learned so much about my body!! The biggest thing that it has helped was my plateau. I had been on a plateau for 8 weeks, found out when I got my HRM that my body burns 2200 calories on a rest day never mind a day with exercise so I increased my calories and BAM...plateau gone

amyy902

yes i love mine its the best thing i have bought. i like seeing my hr and how im pushing myself. and its a bonus to see how many calories i have burned too

rsouthland

I cook at home and I know what I plan on cooking for dinner every night. So when lunch time comes around and I think about what I want to make for dinner, I look at MFP and realize that hmm, I need to burn 500 or so calories at the gym today to cover my dinner calories. I absolutely love using my HRM. I highly recommend it for everyone.

speedyf

Absolutely! It's one of the main reason I am still running today! A watch like that is a Motivator in itself! You won't regret that! This IS THE best investment ever!

TNAJackson

It definately motivates me! I treat it like a game... "Can I beat my last calories burnt doing the same activity?" and it goes from there! Plus, I like being able to log the accurate amount of calories burned. :bigsmile:

kristelpoole

Definitely motivating! When I go to the gym now, I set a calorie burn goal depending on what I want to do/time of day/time allotted/etc and it helps a lot!

mathen2

Absolutely, it makes me want to push myself until I burn 400-500 calories each day when I workout and then try to beat the previous entry if I can.

Cakepiebeer

yes

meshashesha2012

definitely. i'm pretty competitive (even with myself) and there will definitely be times when the me of today will definitely want to beat the me of yesterday in calorie burn. yeah i'm kinda weird :blushing:

also using the HRM can give you a good indication on when it's time to move up in intensity. for instance i save 1-2 of my cardio workouts a week strictly for cardiovascular improvement. for that exercise i chose walking and wanted to make it so that for 45 minutes i kept my heart rate around 135 bpm. when i first started the highest speed i could go and keep that heart rate was 3.5, but eventually that got too easy. now i'm walking on 4.0 for that heart rate.

CyberEd312

LOVE LOVE LOVE my Polar FT60 and Most Definitely Motivates me!!

downsizinghoss

U know what im worried about. I dont have one but want one, i am worried that when i put it on it will tell me i burned way less calories then mfp says i burned and i will get discoraged.and quit working out as much. However doing some excersises i feel i burn wayyyyy more then mfp says and maybe a hrm would be a positive thing! Its my next "want" item to save money for!

Think of it this way, if you are burning fewer calories than MFP says, imagine how much more progress you will make with the right numbers!