HRM HELP!

wvtracyann

ok I see a ton of people with HRM and how it has helped them lose weight I am thinking about buying a Mio watch with the pedometer is this a good one? I really dont want to spend much more than $40. Let me know what ones you have and how do they work and have you saw a difference since you started with it?

cincymomof3

I would only spend the money if it has a chest strap. They are more accurate. I'm a huge fan of polar brand. You can pick up a black polar ft1 with chest strap on amazon for $45.99 shipped.

wvtracyann

the only reason I was looking at the watch kind is because I could wear it all the time

jarrettd

You can wear it all the time, but it only reads your heartrate when you touch the sensors with your other hand, and it calculates an average from one reading to the next. A chest strap gives constant feedback, and thus, is much more accurate.

About wearing it all the time...an HRM isn't calibrated for casual usage. It is for aerobic activity, where the heartrate will be elevated. For constant wear, the FitBit or BodyBugg type of device is what you are looking for. These tend to come with subscription costs, though, so look out.

You want one that requires you to enter your height, weight, and age, as these are necessary for correctly estimating your calorie burn. Not all of them show "calories burned", either. Make sure the one you choose shows it, or you will have to plug numbers into a formula to get it. I had to send one back to Amazon, because it didn't do either one. Also...don't forget to change your weight periodically as you lose. The smaller you get, the less you burn. It sucks, I know, but you want to stay true to yourself, especially as you get closer to goal.

My New Balance 4 was less than $40, delivered, from Amazon. And it has user-replaceable batteries! (Watch out for some that you have to send back to the manufacturer for new batteries, at nearly the original cost of the device!)

Make sure to read user-reviews and good luck!

LoraF83

The Polar brands have a chest strap that transmits to a watch. So you can wear the watch all the time. Polar is the way to go. I have a Polar FT4......I spent about $65 on Amazon for it.

Kristinemomof3

I would def get a chest strap. More accurate of a read.

wvtracyann

ok would it help more for me to just get a pedometer. I work a desk job and dotn move much. On my lunch break I try waslk 15 min. We can ususally get a mile in in 15 or 16 min we have measured around our building lol. I am just wanting to know what all I am diong when I am not thinking about it. I was slowing down on exercising but now since I have had a pound weight gain I know I need to get back on the wagon and push my self just as hard as I was before. I am really watching my calories.

cincymomof3

the only reason I was looking at the watch kind is because I could wear it all the time

As jarrettd said hrm are for during exercise only. The ft1 is a wristband watch style monitor with the chest strap.

If you looking for something that tracks all day calorie burn, I highly recommend picking up a used body fit media or Bodybugg off eBay or Craigslist for around $40-$50. The monthly subscription is under $10 and it is worth every penny. My body fit media, digital food scale and logging every little bite is working awesome. I've been losing 1.5-2 lbs a week.

wvtracyann

I took the plunge and bought a polar F7