Heart Rate Monitor?

aamberrr

Hey guys! So I've been wanting to get a heart rate monitor... Initially, I was interested in the fitbit/bodybugg things, but then I was reading and found out that they can only really tell you calories burned based on exercise involving taking steps. Well, I like to lift and want an accurate reading of how many calories I've burned.

I was wondering, do all heart rate monitors tell you how many calories you've burned? Or only certain ones? I was looking at the Polar FT4, but the cheapest one is $65... which I will pay if it's the only one that does the whole calorie count thing for you, but was wondering if anyone has something that works and is cheaper?

Also, if you wear it all day, will it give you your resting metabolic rate as well? Do you have to strap it to your chest when you work out (as I've read people mentioning) or can you wear it like a watch and have it work?

Thanks.

ShannonMpls

I don't know about all HRMs, but I'd stick with Polar - which yes, tell you your heart rate and calorie burn. They also give you nonsense about zones which I fully ignore.

However, a few caveats:

1) HRMs are not particularly accurate at counting calories during strength training.

2) Yes, you must use the strap. The watch alone merely picks up and displays the data sent by the transmitter on the chest strap.

3) No, wearing it all day will not give you an accurate metabolic rate. The formula HRMs use to determine calorie count is based on steady-state cardio involving an elevated heart rate. I use it for interval training and I used to use it for strength training, but I don't think the numbers it gave were accurate. Actually, I don't think any HRM really provides accurate numbers, though it's more ballpark for steady-state cardio than other work.

My two cents - and despite the above, I really love my HRM and would replace it the same day if it ever broke. I just don't base how much I eat on the numbers it gives me.