Do you use a heart rate monitor?

myateam4
myateam4 Posts: 63 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I just finally got one tonight and I burned 80 more calories than I was giving myself credit for in just 18 minutes!!!
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Replies

  • super_monty
    super_monty Posts: 419 Member
    No I don't.
  • Chameleone
    Chameleone Posts: 281 Member
    Yes I do. And I was also burning more than I gave my self credit for! I think it's a lot more accurate than MFP's guess...
  • myfitnessval
    myfitnessval Posts: 687 Member
    i got one recently and realized MFP was overestimating my burns for circuit training. :/ but i'm glad i know now!
  • ShaunMc1968
    ShaunMc1968 Posts: 204
    I do - wouldn't be with out one.
  • fearlesskcl
    fearlesskcl Posts: 159 Member
    I have one too! Before I got it I found I was seriously overestimating my calories. Best part is when I go to fitness class and I'm kinda lazy I find my calorie burn matches my effort level. I know to work hard rather than just logging my usual class burn.

    Plus knowing where my heart rate is makes me work harder to keep it high!
  • RomaCasalinga
    RomaCasalinga Posts: 3 Member
    I've had one too for the last few months. I have found that for me myfitnesspal has been surprisingly accurate in their calculations of my burns. Of course regardless I don't lose any weight if I eat my exercise calories back, so I now use my HRM more to know how intensively I'm working out- when I need to slow down, when I need to speed up. I don't go to the gym without it now.
  • Sister_Someone
    Sister_Someone Posts: 567 Member
    Nope, because I don't own one and I'm too cheap and too broke to justify buying it. I don't eat the exercise calories back anyway so it doesn't really matter what I'm burning.
  • littlemisspiggy666
    littlemisspiggy666 Posts: 15
    Ive been considering getting one. does anyone know of a good HRM? ive seen some but they often have bad reviews.
  • LisaWilson2012
    LisaWilson2012 Posts: 118 Member
    Yes and I love mine. It does give a much more accurate reading than holding the sensors on the cardio equipment. I also use mine when I'm lifting weights as my heart rate spikes and I sweat. I wouldn't be without mine.
  • skinnygurl02
    skinnygurl02 Posts: 176 Member
    I don't. Recently got a fitbit and have been wondering if I would get any extra benefit from a HRM though...
  • Coffeeholic8
    Coffeeholic8 Posts: 272 Member
    Yes I do, love it.
  • Tickateeboo
    Tickateeboo Posts: 132 Member
    I just finally got one tonight and I burned 80 more calories than I was giving myself credit for in just 18 minutes!!!

    So how do they work exactly? Do you wear one on your wrist and then it tells you your 'true' calories burned?
  • andiechick
    andiechick Posts: 916 Member
    :happy: I love my HRM. I do bootcamp sessions and the calories I burn can differ by around 200 depending on the instructor taking the session. At least this way I know for definite how many cals I've burnt. I have also found with some exercises I burn way more than MFP guesstimated, but with some others MFP has overestimated. At least this way I know how much effort I am putting in myself.
  • littlemisspiggy666
    littlemisspiggy666 Posts: 15
    :happy: I love my HRM. I do bootcamp sessions and the calories I burn can differ by around 200 depending on the instructor taking the session. At least this way I know for definite how many cals I've burnt. I have also found with some exercises I burn way more than MFP guesstimated, but with some others MFP has overestimated. At least this way I know how much effort I am putting in myself.

    Hi, What HRM do you have? im looking to buy one but dont know which is best to get. :embarassed:
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    For the love of everything holy, NO.
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    I did... for cycling.

    it's useless right now because I'm not doing cardio lately. Jsut lifting weights-- and HRMs don't work right for that.
  • moto67e
    moto67e Posts: 20 Member
    I use mine for cycling all the time. The one I use is the http://www.sportline.com/products/heart-rate-monitors/cardio-660-heartrate-mens.html. I like it because it tracks calories and shows my heart rate at the same time on the same screen.

    On a side note, are you not supposed to eat back your exercise calories? I thought MFP already calculated your calorie deficit. I have mine set to lose 1.5lbs per week.
  • Tat2dDom624
    Tat2dDom624 Posts: 1,226 Member
    Not yet, but today i'm ordering one through Amazon.com. I want to be able to log all of my workouts, and also to get a more accurate number than what my treadmill says.
  • skylark94
    skylark94 Posts: 2,036 Member
    I'm a gadget geek, so I use a HRM for exercise and a Fitbit for the rest of my day.
  • jesusHchris
    jesusHchris Posts: 1,405 Member
    Only in bed. I'm like the Ron Jeremy of the fitness world - his lets go on a director's queue, and I time mine to perfectly allow myself whatever sandwich I am planning on consuming afterwards.
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I use an HRM for my Zumba classes - it's the only way to get an accurate reading of how many calories I've burned.
  • PayneAS
    PayneAS Posts: 669 Member
    I use my HRM for my workouts (Polar FT7 although the FT4 is also nice) and wear my FitBit the rest of the day.

    The most accurate HRMs have the strap. And many of the bad reviews come from people who aren't washing theirs enough and getting the 00/250+ heart rate readings. I wash mine every 3rd workout and have no problems.
  • myateam4
    myateam4 Posts: 63 Member
    I just finally got one tonight and I burned 80 more calories than I was giving myself credit for in just 18 minutes!!!

    So how do they work exactly? Do you wear one on your wrist and then it tells you your 'true' calories burned?
  • myateam4
    myateam4 Posts: 63 Member
    I just finally got one tonight and I burned 80 more calories than I was giving myself credit for in just 18 minutes!!!

    So how do they work exactly? Do you wear one on your wrist and then it tells you your 'true' calories burned?

    You wear a chest strap that gives and accurate heart rate... and it has a watch that you wear too that gives you the read outs... Hope that helps..
  • mrsmegb
    mrsmegb Posts: 18 Member
    I don't. Recently got a fitbit and have been wondering if I would get any extra benefit from a HRM though...
    The FitBit is only good for some activities. It's incredible inaccurate compared to an HRM. For example, a FitBit wont recognize the burn when you're biking.... or on a treadmill but holding onto the bars. The FitBit is great for just your average daily activities, but not so much for your exercising.

    I have the Polar FT4 and LOVE IT!
  • foxfirekenzie
    foxfirekenzie Posts: 244 Member
    I do and I am a total nerd over it. I don't work out without it and I am glad to have it because MFP was giving me way too much credit for my exercise. It is fun to see the real numbers.

    Enjoy yours!
  • moonlightturk
    moonlightturk Posts: 398
    For the love of everything holy, NO.

    I returned mine few weeks ago. I lost most of my weight without one, and using one just slowed me down. I understood it gave me accurate results, but I don't need to focus on anymore numbers or depend on them.
  • SweetCheekszx0
    SweetCheekszx0 Posts: 478 Member
    For the love of everything holy, NO.

    I returned mine few weeks ago. I lost most of my weight without one, and using one just slowed me down. I understood it gave me accurate results, but I don't need to focus on anymore numbers or depend on them.

    This I was just looking at one the other day and said.. Ummmm -No. Lol
  • CHN_
    CHN_ Posts: 94 Member
    Yes I do. Have had one for over two years (Polar FT40) and I can't imagine working out without it. The only time it ever gave me problems was when the battery was dying, so I just switched it myself (which was easy on this model) and now it's working perfectly again.

    You want to get one with a chest strap, and you want to rinse it off after each time you use it. I've never put my strap in the washer, but I rinse it well right after each time I use it, and that seems to work fine.

    My HRM not only tells me how many calories I burn, but also tells me my average heart rate % throughout my workout, as well as my highest. (I have it set to show % and not the actual HR, you can choose which to show of course). It also tells me how long I was in fitness more, and how long I was in fat burn mode. And it has a fitness test I do about every few month (or, you know, should do every few months, he he) that is what it bases my calorie readings/max HR settings on. Some Polar models may not have this, but the FT40 does.

    So, a very long answer there. But honestly, it's worth the money to get a good model. A lot of people here have the FT4 or FT7, I swear by the FT40, and know the FT60 is pretty awesome too. A bit more expensive, but worth it. I use it to know how hard I am pushing, and how much harder I can push. Without it I feel a little lost to be honest, and I hate not knowing just how much I burn each time I work out!
  • kellyh0709
    kellyh0709 Posts: 15 Member
    Yes I do.
    It helps me work out if I have eaten and exercised off my 500 cals a day to lose 1lbs a week.
    i don;t eat my exercise cals back but it helps me ensure I am hitting my targets on a daily basis.
    The same workout can vary by 100 cals a time dependent of effort etc, so is really good for helping you stay on track.

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