What I learned from my NEWEST HRM

Doesntplaynice82

Pretty much the same thing I learned from my last one that everyone said was crap (not saying it wasn't crap...just gave me about the same reading as my new FT4)

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/726008-what-i-learned-from-my-new-heart-rate-monitor

Walking to the gym (with 4 flights of stairs) 60 cals
Chest and Triceps 240 Cals
Treadmill Interval training 507 Cals
TOTAL 807 CALS

The Treadmill only read that I burned 260 cals....so that is what I would have logged into my exercise. I noticed on my "cheat" days I actually lost weight....it makes sense now....I have not been eating enough!!!

Doesntplaynice82

Anyone? 2 completely different heart rate monitors can't be wrong can they? My heart rate at the gym stays between 120 and 180

Brendajo510

I agree that a HRM is awesome at checking calories. MFP has general information on how many calories are lost but truthfully, we all weigh differently. A walk for a 150 pound person and a 250 pound person is going to burn a completely different amount of pounds. I wore mine while mowing the lawn.

90 Minutes with push mower calories burned-
My HRM: 1100
MFP: 664

That is a large difference to me in how much I should be eating. I wear my HRM whenever I do any exercise now.

EvgeniZyntx

Anyone? 2 completely different heart rate monitors can't be wrong can they? My heart rate at the gym stays between 120 and 180

Yes, they can be wrong for a type of activity. But likely correct for your activity, if set up correctly.

HRMs are set for cardio - if you are doing cardio in the gym then fine, use what the HRM says - for weight lifting it will likely overcalculate - at least everything I have read suggests this:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/220952-calories-burned-from-one-hour-of-lifting-weights/?utm_source=RELARTICLES_R1
http://www.livestrong.com/article/338469-how-to-calculate-calories-burned-weight-lifting/
http://www.answerfitness.com/296/how-many-calories-are-burned-weight-liftin/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698

ETA: typo. For the treadmill, I would trust the HRM.

Doesntplaynice82

Anyone? 2 completely different heart rate monitors can't be wrong can they? My heart rate at the gym stays between 120 and 180

Yes, they can be wrong for a type of activity. But likely correct for your activity, if set up correctly.

HRMs are set for cardio - if you are doing cardio in the gym then fine, use what the HRM says - for weight lifting it will likely overcalculate - at least everything I have read suggests this:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/220952-calories-burned-from-one-hour-of-lifting-weights/?utm_source=RELARTICLES_R1
http://www.livestrong.com/article/338469-how-to-calculate-calories-burned-weight-lifting/
http://www.answerfitness.com/296/how-many-calories-are-burned-weight-liftin/
http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/hrms-cannot-count-calories-during-strength-training-17698

ETA: typo. For the treadmill, I would trust the HRM.

Thank you for that!