HRM users . . . when to hit stop?

still_crafty

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?

still_crafty

I know it's late but someone's gotta read this . . .

sarammorgan

My first HRM is in the mail, so I'd be interested in this, too.

sarammorgan

My first HRM is in the mail, so I'd be interested in this, too.

irisheyez718

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

I usually wait a min or two, but nothing set. So, I'm definitely interested if anyone has a better method

MommyTKD

I hit stop as soon as I'm done exercising. I'd rather underestimate the burn!

taso42

Hit stop when you're done.

tdonlin

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

I let mine go till im at 90 ish but i subtract my bmr cals ( about 75 an hourish ) from my total.

SerenaNatasha

I normally stop it right before i remove my clothes to change..

MRC77

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

Below 100

jjjjjenna

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

I stop mine when it reaches under 100. That's where I need to be to be burning calories.

OseaHello

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

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

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

i hit stop when i stop doing the activity...

Lolli1986

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

I stop once I've finished stretching after my workout.

KellyKAG

I hit stop as soon as I'm done exercising. I'd rather underestimate the burn!

I usually do this too.

j4nash

after I get out of the zone or to my car. usually takes a minute or two though to drop to normal heart rate.

jaymek92

i stop when i'm done exercising... it's to calculate your heart rate while you're working out, not while you're driving home from the gym.

bratgrrl

I usually hit stop when my heart rate hits 100

karenmi

Hmmmm, some interesting answers here!

I start mine as soon as I get on the treadmill (35 mins), keep it on during strength training (25 to 35 mins) and stop it when I hit the change room.

caseydimples

I've had my heart rate monitor for a year and have used it consistently. I stop it as soon as I'm done with the exercise. It actually never crossed my mind to keep it running. I like to know how many calories I burned for the time I was exercising. I guess I don't really care what I'm burning as I cool down - those are bonus calories to me.

Ianultrarunner

When you're on your cool down you should be slowing to let your heart rate down to below roughly 60% of your maximum target heart rate at which point you should stop anyway as your probably not exerting anymore.

jeefyl

I stop mine as when I am done exercising. There is no magic number for me.

SparkleShine

I usually hit stop when my heartrate drops below 115.

Switty_Kitty

I usually hit stop a minute or so after ending the exercise. Usually once I hit about 115...but judging by what people are saying here, maybe I should leave it longer!