HRM - How accurate are they?

priyac1987

I just purchased a Polar heart rate monitor recently, and im just wondering how accurate are they.

For example, I went for a walk the other day, fairly brisk pace for approx 50 mins, and it told me that i had burnt 500 calories. That seems a lot?!
But when I put Zumba down and I feel like i am working a hell of a lot harder for 50 mins its says iv only burnt 550 calories.

Now im not sure if im not wearing my monitor right, or whether it calculates it according to how long you are in the fat burning zone for (which i have no idea how to work out, and i only ever manage to stay in this for like 6 minutes of the workout) or whether i really have just burnt 500 cals just walking up and down my street for 50 mins??

Any one experienced the same or have any advice.

FYI, i wear my heart rate monitor directly underneath my bra with the attachment bang in the middle? I think this is the correct place as I followed a vid i saw on youtube.

bcattoes

HRM monitors are fairly accurate if you are physically fit and doing aerobic exercise. If you are still working on becoming fit, they will likely overestimate calories, and they are not meant to be used during non-aerobic exercise such as strength training.

neverstray

EVERYTHING is an ESTIMATE. Don't worry about it so much.

josiereside

500 calories for walking seems extremely high. I burn about that with running for 50 minutes at a 10 minute mile. I have a polar also.

priyac1987

500 calories for walking seems extremely high. I burn about that with running for 50 minutes at a 10 minute mile. I have a polar also.

Thats what I thought!

bmxpop

I walk regularly on a back road...a 4 mile walk...2 miles fairly flat, 1 mile steep downhill and 1 mile steep uphill. It usually takes me just over an hour for the 4 miles and my Polar FT4 usually registers between 450 and 500 calories.

josiereside

I guess other factors come into play also, weight, level of fitness. The heart has to work harder for someone who is not physically fit. Again, I just did a 44 minute run and my calorie burn was only about 400.

Perfectdiamonds1

Well, I suppose it depends on your level of fitness. I walked this morning for 125 minutes and my Polar FT4 read 746 cal burned. I compared what MFP would have est for the same amout of time and the HRM is higher. Now when I go to Curves, they told me a 30 workout is between 300 and 500 cal. burned. My HRM reads around 260 for 37 minutes on yesterday. I think the HRM is more accurate because it is on your body. So I'm going with the HRM. Just make sure the placement is on correctly.

mmreed

have you double checked your height and weight settings?

mine too says I burn about 450-500ish on a 50-60min low intensity (120s HR) cardio session. It matches what the gym machines say also.

ZyheeMoongazer

As mmreed has said, check the HRM settings. I have a Polar RS100 and it has been the best money I have spent thus far on getting fit and healthy.