HRM compared to my bike and MFP.

apocalypsepwnie

So I got a HRM yesterday and chucked it on while riding my stationary bike.
My bike has a HRM on it but it's awkward to hold the handles like that all the time as I'm short.

When I'd finished I checked my cals on the HRM and it only said 200 while the bike said 450 and MFP said around 500.
How could it be SOOO far out? I had the resistance up higher than I ever have and rode faster than I have in a long long time too.
I feel kind of ripped off. It's like nearly 60% difference.

Lucky I haven't been eating those cals back... I'd never lose!

Roboartist

I have observed what you are seeing between my HRM, what gym machines report and what my fitbit reports. There was a great article in Wired about why fitness gadgets are all over the map on calorie counts here: http://www.wired.com/playbook/2012/08/fitness-trackers/

I don't use the calorie numbers at all from either of my gadgets and while I still have a lot to lose I am learning to eat within the healthy calorie range for me at a weight loss level. I feel like if I pay too much attention to a number that can vary so greatly I will miss cues from my own body. The numbers I use from my gadgets are the step numbers from fitbit just to keep my activity level in check and I watch my HRM to keep in whatever zone I am training. My zones were set for me specifically with various step tests and such and I really just use the HRM to stay within a safe zone as recommended by my cardiologist.

I have list 20 pounds, only 2 so far since joining here but working on that. Hope the article helps. One thing you could do is average between the results, it's still not going to be as accurate as a calorimeter but probably closer than a wild stab in the dark.

apocalypsepwnie

I'm also using the HRM to stay in the zone too. It helps me with interval training and knowing if I am actually getting fitter with my recovery rate.
I found out it's only calculating the cals ontop of my BMR... lol. So it's not going to let me log the calories I burned just being alive but the ones I've burned EXTRA from exercise.
Fabbo! What a smart little machine.
Plus, I'd rather underestimate exercise.