HRM Caloric Conversion?

AReisenfeld

I got a Polar FT40 last week, and I love it. I use it when I work out from start (30+ min Cardio) to finish (30+ min weight lifting);

I lift fairly quickly, to keep my heart rate up - typically 50-10 intervals, and if not, then 10 reps, 4 exercises, 3 sets with roughly 45 seconds rest between each exercise, then switch to a new 2 or 3 exercise circuit.

Typically, in an hour session, based on my heart rate/calorie reading, I burn between 650-800 Gross calories.

I convert those to Net Calories, and then put those into my exercise log.

However, that puts me consuming over 2000 calories if I eat back my exercise calories (which I always do). My TDEE is around there. My BMR is around 1480, so my net calorie consumption goal is 1500-1550 per day.

My concern is that I'm eating too many calories - that perhaps my exercise calories are too high, or I shouldn't be recording calories burned during weight training? Before getting my HRM, I was only recording my cardio calories and eating those back (roughly 250-400 calories).

Granted, my goal is to replace fat with muscle so I understand weight gain, but my measurements haven't changed much over the past 6 weeks, and I've been exercising in the 65-80% max HR zone, just without the HRM.

A little info to go off of:
5'8.5"
144-ish
C: 35.5"
W: 27.5"
H: 39.75"

I am trying to be patient but it's frustrating that I haven't seen a consistent measurement change since February.
Ideas, advice?

tryinghard71

I get my FT40 today. I am nervous and excited. Nervous to find out if I have been recording the right calorie burn. Excited to know I will have a more accurate number.

Question: what do you mean you convert to net calories. So I don't record what the HRM says ? I need to do a conversion?

Thanks for your help!

AReisenfeld

This explains it pretty well:

http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/articles/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn.aspx

It basically means you take the amount of calories burned during exercise and subtract out the calorie you would have burned had you not been exercising - prevents double counting and makes a difference over the long run!

tryinghard71

OMG! Thank you soooooo much!!! Did not know this at all.

yarwell

often wondered if the calorie meters on gym kit subtracted the 70 cal/hr I would burn anyway - it appears not.

May partly explain why an obese female is given the power output of an elite athlete by these things.