Using Polar's OwnIndex, and confused.

msmileyface

Hi everyone. I got a new HRM and it is the Polar FT40. I did the resting fitness test and it assigned me an OwnIndex (something akin to the v02max I believe) number. Mine is 35. It says I am "moderately fit". This number is now incorporated into my user settings. Since I have done this, I notice that I am showing less of a calorie burn for the same exercises than I would have had a week ago. I imagine that this is good- I am getting a more accurate reading- but I can't help but be kind of bummed that I only got shy of 400 calories for an hour of zumba today, vs. close to 600 another time before I did the calculation.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I am not super familiar with all of these fitness calculations at this point.

TheWinman

Same thing happened to me after it calculated my vo2max. I have a FT40 also. I can't remember what was said, but there was great information about it on the polarfitness forums. You are getting more accurate results now.

fozzie500

the more you incorperate exercise into your lifestyle,the fitter you become and your body becomes more efficient at performing tasks,
so you burn less calories doing the same tasks
,the ownindex test,is a measure of your fitness based on your heart rate,and produces a broadly similar result to measuring your vo2 max, if you use the test regularly (roughly every six weeks) and continue to exercise,you will see the number rise.
bottom line if you want to burn the same number of calories as you get fitter you have to work harder. hope this helps

jaweiss1

I have the FT40 too. What the others said is correct - you are now getting more accurate estimates of calories burned because you are incorporating an approximation of your personal VO2max.

You might find the information on VO2max in these posts to be helpful:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/new-hrm-how-to-make-the-calorie-estimate-more-accurate-183102
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak?month=201003

msmileyface

Thank you all so much!