What I learned from my New Heart Rate Monitor

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  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I love using my HRM for seeing my heart rate for various exercises. I use the strength training in the cardio section to log my weight training and recently created a new entry for my particular workout, just to log the time, but kept the same calorie burn. Still, I ignore calorie burn pretty much. It's mostly all way to high compared to reality. Mostly if you are not losing weight it is because you are eating more than you burn, simple as that. And if by"falling off the wagon" means you go crazy at times it is more likely not due to calorie restriction but food restriction. You have to allow the foods you love, in moderation, and learn to "budget them in". If I want a cookie tomorrow I add it to tomorrows menu, then work around it with health foods. That way I don't go crazy with cookies all of a sudden.
  • cybercpa
    cybercpa Posts: 60
    How much did it cost? Just curious.
  • Doesntplaynice82
    Doesntplaynice82 Posts: 119 Member
    I love using my HRM for seeing my heart rate for various exercises. I use the strength training in the cardio section to log my weight training and recently created a new entry for my particular workout, just to log the time, but kept the same calorie burn. Still, I ignore calorie burn pretty much. It's mostly all way to high compared to reality. Mostly if you are not losing weight it is because you are eating more than you burn, simple as that. And if by"falling off the wagon" means you go crazy at times it is more likely not due to calorie restriction but food restriction. You have to allow the foods you love, in moderation, and learn to "budget them in". If I want a cookie tomorrow I add it to tomorrows menu, then work around it with health foods. That way I don't go crazy with cookies all of a sudden.

    By "falling off the wagon" i mean that I get super hungry and end up eating something I shouldnt BUT i realized i have been underestimating my calories....so that is why i'm not losing because i don't eat enough. I eat pretty healthy mostly and indulge every now and then on stuff i don't normally eat.
  • jnhu72
    jnhu72 Posts: 558 Member
    If this helps any....I used to wear a timex hrm for a few years before I switched back to Polar and I can tell you that Timex overestimates calories by as much as 200-300 calories if not more!! For example for a treadmill run at a speed of 6.5mph for an hr, my Timex said I burned 700+ calories....when I went back to Polar it said 450... I'm 34, 5'3 and 125 lbs. it didn't hinder my weight loss because I don't eat back all of my exercise calories but it was definitely an eye opener. But it also goes to show that nothing is 100% accurate. Its still an estimation. Also the fitter you get the harder you will have to work to get the higher calorie burns!!

    Man that sucks...I guess you get what you pay for! I guess I will have to invest in a new one. Hopefully I can sell this one :(

    I had a Timex Ironman, and it way over estimated my calories. I switched to a Polar (I've used ft7 and ft4 they work the same) and my calories make a lot more sense.
  • worthliving4
    worthliving4 Posts: 29 Member
    I recently decided to track my HR during weight lifting and I am glad I did. As it turns out I am burning twice the cals I thought I was! My HR during weight training is 130-167 and is awesome cardio and strength. I bought the Polar FT7 after much review and assessing my overall goals. For running I just use my iphone and the nike app. For the gym the heart rate monitor is a must.
  • Cathcandoo
    Cathcandoo Posts: 107 Member
    A HRM is a great investment! At they very least it will give you a consistent result to compare sessions.

    **THIS** Brilliant, man!
  • loveachallenge
    loveachallenge Posts: 62 Member
    Make sure you keep checking your actual HR throughout the workout. It goes up and down and if you keep it the whole time when its high then the monitor will show more calories burned.
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I got a Sonic pulse and used it for the first time oday...I did 30 day shred level one day 9 and it told me I burned 103 cals..
  • cca1229
    cca1229 Posts: 23 Member
    I bought a heart rate monitor too and 20 min warm up on bike and 50 min working with a trainer and it showed my burn to be 1100! I came on here to see what and if anyone was getting those types of numbers . I have a Timex Personal Trainer too. I think I'll return mine too and get a Polar.
  • Doesntplaynice82
    Doesntplaynice82 Posts: 119 Member
    Mine should be here soon so I will let you know. Should be delivered tomorrow
  • MeeshKB
    MeeshKB Posts: 120 Member
    I think you're going to love your Polar FT4. I have been using mine for several months now and I love it. It's easy to use, reasonably attractive (I wear the wrist monitor all the time as a watch), and many of the machines at the gym pick up its signal so I can see my HR on the machine.

    Enjoy! :-)
  • angusmike
    angusmike Posts: 97
    I just ordered one. I really hesitated because i wasn't sure it was necessary, but I'm curious about how my body is reacting to my exercise walks ("death marches"). I'll be watching the Forum, here, for user tips and comments. :smile:
  • Doesntplaynice82
    Doesntplaynice82 Posts: 119 Member
    I think you're going to love your Polar FT4. I have been using mine for several months now and I love it. It's easy to use, reasonably attractive (I wear the wrist monitor all the time as a watch), and many of the machines at the gym pick up its signal so I can see my HR on the machine.

    Enjoy! :-)

    Thats the part I love the most is having the machine pick it up because i do interval training and those stupid attached monitors never work especially when I 'm all sweaty and then i wonder how many ppl have touched that thing before me and ewww... LOL

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