Logging exercise and heart rate monitors/pedometers

Jezebel_Barbie

Hi,

I use a fitness DVD as my daily exercise. I’m struggling with what to put it under in my fitness log – so far I’ve gone with ‘low impact aerobics’ as that’s the closest thing I can think of to put it under, but it makes me wonder about my exercise calories. Since my exercise calories are essentially a wild stab in the dark I’ve been eating some but not all of them back. For anyone else who uses fitness DVDs, how do you log your exercise?

This has led me to want to know in more detail what I’m actually burning off. I’ve seen people discuss heart rate monitors and pedometers. Do both give you estimates of how many calories you’ve burned? Is one better/more accurate than the other? Does it depend on the kind of workouts you do? Essentially all I want is a better estimate of how many calories I’m burning, but I literally don’t even know where to start with these things!

dg09

Get a heart rate monitor.

It can be used for any exercise that involves elevating your heart rate. As for the accuracy? I don't know, but my Polar hasn't failed me yet.

Jezebel_Barbie

Thank you. Can I ask which kind you use? Are different versions better for different kinds of exercise or is it just whichever one I want to go for?

LittleMissNerdy

I love my Polar FT4. I just got it last week and it's awesome!

nnylee

I love my Polar FT4. I just got it last week and it's awesome!

I too got my Polar FT4 last week and it has been amazing~! I put my videos under "circuit training" and use the HRM to determine how many calories I've kicked.

dad106

When HRM's have all info(age, weight, height, gender and Vo2max) and used during steady state cardio(Walking, running, etc) they are 80% accurate. Granted you can tweak them, and then the accuracy goes up to about 90%.

Most important thing is to get one with a chest strap and don't go too cheap. Go too cheap and you risk it not taking all info needed and breaking prematurely.

Personally I like Polar.. Have had both a FT7 and a FT60 and I love both!

dg09

I have the FT7. Seems like Polar is the way to go.

marelfourie

google bodybugg I use a heart rate monitor and love it but the last 2 weeks i was reading about bodybug and it sound very good :-)

Jezebel_Barbie

Thanks guys! Now I have some brand names etc it will help narrow down my search.