Fitness Database and Heart Rate Monitor Issues

faithchange

Hello everyone. I wanted to ask everyone their experience in using either a HRM or the fitness database on here. I have a New Balance wrist HRM. It is fairly new (3-6mos old). I think it works well, but at times can be "really" under the calories burned, for instance if I am walking briskly outside, pulling my two kids (nearly 100 lbs combined) in a wagon for a mile and 15 min. it'll say I've only burned 50 calories or something strange.

Other times it will be high or average, so is my opinion. I have went off it though pretty much for calorie burn.

Today, I took 97 min to clean my house. This was moving furniture to vacuum, picking up things, dusting, folding clothes, dishes, sweeping, basically everything... I burned 704 calories via HRM and via fitness database only 394. What is more accurate, you think?

I'm starting a P90X challenge tomorrow and hope to be on target with my HRM.

I wished that I could afford a strap HRM, but even if I could wouldn't know which to buy. They are all so expensive.

Either way, I just realize if I'm sweating like crazy to work up a great burn when exercising.

Thanks

Perfectdiamonds1

I wished that I could afford a strap HRM, but even if I could wouldn't know which to buy. They are all so expensive.

I think that is the ticket right there. THE CHEST STRAP. I read thur the forums and decided that most recommend the Polar FT4 which I purchased. I compared it to the numbers from the machines at the gym and it seem pretty on target. MFP est tend to run a little higher or lower.

I understand the affortability issues, but I just went on a broke down and bought it. I said I'll be in it for the duration and consider it an investment toward my health

AmyRhubarb

I had a New Balance watch HRM. Got frustrated with it because of needing to pause workouts to touch the face of the watch for a reading - especially when it didn't take the first time and I'd have to do it again. I bought myself a New Balance N4 a few months later - watch chest strap combo, so no need to stop & take a reading, it's constant with the strap, and much more accurate.

Money is an issue for me too, so I turned to eBay. I searched for the New Balance N4 and Polar HRM based on recommendations of MFP users here and Amazon reviews. I found auctions for new items and made sure the seller would take returns just in case there was a problem.

I got the N4 within a week for $26 - ti works great! Retail at Target is about $70, so it was a big savings. You might have to be patient and wait for the right auction price, but getting one with a strap is totally worth it in my book. Much better estimate of your calories burned.

faithchange

Thank you. I may just have to ebay for it. Hope I have as much luck!!!

mcarter99

Your HRM values look suspect to me. I cleaned my house this morning, similar activities, and Fitbit gave me around 2.5 calories/min. burned vs. your 7.5ish. And your walk calories look a bit low.

A chest strap HRM is a fun tool but if you want to estimate your total daily burn from activities like walking and housecleaning, consider a Fitbit. No chest strap, no adding back. It even synchs to MFP and vice versa.