HRM accurate

SVMR17

I recently purchased a Polar HRM and I am amazed at how HIGH it is estimating my calorie expenditure.
As a 5'1'' female with 18 BMI, I always thought my expendenture was MUCH lower than people of average height.
It says I burned 500 calories walking 6 miles and 800 calories playing three hours of tennis (doubles).
Is this really possible?

jsapninz

That does seem like alot, but it does seem possible to me. I burn 450 cals walking if I'm out for an hour and a half or so.
Since you have a Polar, I would trust it. Check your user info though to make sure it's current.

rmhand

I feel my HRM is very high too, but I can believe those numbers for the work you did.

solarpower4

I just received my Polar HRM last week and have similar concerns. As a formerly competitive triathlete, I know I burn more efficiently (at a lower rate) than most people, yet sometimes the number seems wildly high. e.g. a few days ago I mowed the lawn. It's a fairly big yard - 0.7 acres - and it is somewhat hilly. I was using a push mower and I jogged for much of the time (due to issues with a crazy neighbor I try to avoid). Still, I shook my head in disbelief when I looked at my wrist and the display read 1,008 kcal burned during the 1 hour 50 minutes of mowing. MFP, which usually overestimates my calories burned, listed 620-ish for "lawn mowing, general". I'm sure it's higher than that b/c of the hills and the jogging, but 1,008 seemed TOO high. For me, I think part of the high number was b/c my heart rate is higher than normal right now due to stress from the crazy (threatening) neighbor and lack of sleep over same.

So, maybe if our heart rates are a bit higher than usual (b/c of lack of sleep, dehydration, illness, etc.) the HRMs slightly overestimate "calories burned". I just didn't feel I had put forth THAT much effort! On the other hand, the last 30DS workout I did (with 10 lb weights!!) said a mere 225 calories burned for those 25 intense minutes. That seems a bit LOW!

So I will modify my "calories burned" that I enter on MFP up or down a bit when my perceived exertion differs wildly from the HRM numbers. Otherwise, I'll just go with the HRM numbers. It's so cool to see the results!

Swissmiss

That does seem like alot, but it does seem possible to me. I burn 450 cals walking if I'm out for an hour and a half or so.
Since you have a Polar, I would trust it. Check your user info though to make sure it's current.

I also have a Polar and I feel that it is accurate. At least more so than the machines at the gym.

gerla_k

I have a Polar to, mine is tf4.- I think it's pretty accurate, I agree with Swissmiss- check the user info, to make sure your weight, height , age etc is entered correctly.

mamaclose

I've been reading a lot about HRM's. Not sure if I should invest in one or not?

I am not overweight and though I do track calories eaten/expended, I don't know if I truly need an HRM.

Thoughts?