HRM users . . . when to hit stop?

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still_crafty
still_crafty Posts: 692 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been using my HRM for about 3 weeks now and really love it. My question is this: once I'm done with my work out and cool down, how long should I let it keep "counting" before stopping it. I have been waiting until my heart rate dropped below 100 and then hitting stop and letting it calculate my calories burned. Is this too long? should I stop it as soon as I'm done with my cool down even though my heart rate is still elevated? or am I shutting it off too soon? should I wait until my heart rate gets closer to a resting level?
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Replies

  • still_crafty
    still_crafty Posts: 692 Member
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    I know it's late but someone's gotta read this . . .
  • sarammorgan
    sarammorgan Posts: 86
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    My first HRM is in the mail, so I'd be interested in this, too.
  • sarammorgan
    sarammorgan Posts: 86
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    My first HRM is in the mail, so I'd be interested in this, too.
  • irisheyez718
    irisheyez718 Posts: 677 Member
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    I have a Polar FT4, I hit stop once I'm no longer "in the zone". My zone is 116-151. Sometimes it takes a few minutes after my Zumba class for it to get there!
  • courtneymal17
    courtneymal17 Posts: 672 Member
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    I usually wait a min or two, but nothing set. So, I'm definitely interested if anyone has a better method
  • MommyTKD
    MommyTKD Posts: 61 Member
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    I hit stop as soon as I'm done exercising. I'd rather underestimate the burn!
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
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    Hit stop when you're done.
  • tdonlin
    tdonlin Posts: 934 Member
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    I hit stop when I finish the exercise. For example, when I finish playing racquetball or when I get off the treadmill I will hit stop. I tend to exercise for a specific amount of time then call it quits.
  • 970Mikaela1
    970Mikaela1 Posts: 2,013 Member
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    I let mine go till im at 90 ish but i subtract my bmr cals ( about 75 an hourish ) from my total.
  • SerenaNatasha
    SerenaNatasha Posts: 246
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    I normally stop it right before i remove my clothes to change..
  • MRC77
    MRC77 Posts: 51
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    I haven't been using mine very long, maybe about a month now but I usually stop it once it drops below my "minimum target heart rate."
  • HartJames
    HartJames Posts: 789 Member
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    Below 100
  • jjjjjenna
    jjjjjenna Posts: 2 Member
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    my hrm has 3 zones that i target and i usually stop mine once i've cooled down to an "out of zone" HR. it's usually around 110 and ends up being towards the end of my stretching.
  • TisMee76
    TisMee76 Posts: 67 Member
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    I stop mine when it reaches under 100. That's where I need to be to be burning calories.
  • OseaHello
    OseaHello Posts: 28
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    I do the same! I hit stop when it gets below 100 ... I remember a while back before I got my HRM there was a thread on here and pretty much everyone suggested to stop when it gets under 100
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,350 Member
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    I typically run with my HR in the 150s and 160s. When I'm done, and my HR drops to 120, that's when I stop my HRM (just a few minutes after stopping). This is my personal habit, and I have no real reasoning for picking that number. I just feel I've stopped "working out" at that point, since my HR will keep dropping fairly rapidly once it hits 120 for me.
  • finchase
    finchase Posts: 174
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    I probably let mine go too long. I wait until I'm no longer in "fat burning" zone. Since I tend to continue my workouts even after I get home from the gym by taking the dog for walks, I often just pause it when it gets below the zone and restart it after I start walking again.
  • Elle_Jamaicangirl81
    Elle_Jamaicangirl81 Posts: 418 Member
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    i hit stop when i stop doing the activity...
  • Lolli1986
    Lolli1986 Posts: 500 Member
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    A good measure of fitness is how long it takes for your heart rate to drop to resting rate.

    In terms of counting calories it makes little difference whether you hit stop immediately or wait for your heart rate to drop (i've done both, it's like a 5 cal difference for me, but I know my heart rate drops really quickly).
  • Shellitz
    Shellitz Posts: 188
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    I stop once I've finished stretching after my workout.

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