Learning to use an HRM properly!

SuffolkSally

I've just started using a Polar HRM (F55 but I don't think the model's all that relevant to the question).

I'm using it at the moment just to calculate calorie burn. When I set it up part of the process was to do a "fitness test" i.e. relax while it ran through some sort of assessment and then told me I'm a fat slob - well actually that my fitnes level is "low" no surprise there.

Anyway what I'm not clear about is whether when I enter the calorie burn data in my MFP diary, I should first manually deduct my resting BMR, or will the HRM have done that for me?

The manual doesn't say, and I can't find the answer on the Polar website either...

TIA

phoenixgirl81

I've just started using the Polar FT7, I just enter the calories burned straight into MFP. I'm loving the HRM.

geebusuk

Myfitness pal is set to 2350 for my base TDEE, with a 1000 calorie deficit (so 1350 calories to eat base).
I just get the figure from my motoactv and take 2350 away from that, then add what's left on as exercise in MFP.

So if the motoactv shows that I burnt 3000 calories, I'd do 3000-2350=650. So I'd enter exercise with a calorie burn of 650.

SuffolkSally

OK - so you've got a device like a fitbit that you wear all day?

What I'm talking about is an HRM worn only during exercise.

It records calorie burn in excess of MFP estimates, and I'm wondering whether this is because I need to deduct my BMR ..

Jamie_Lauren

It records calorie burn in excess of MFP estimates, and I'm wondering whether this is because I need to deduct my BMR ..

Your burns might be in excess because you are really burning that much. If you are bigger and have a low fitness level, you will burn more calories when you exercise because it's easier to get your heart rate up. As you get fitter, you will see your burns dropping for the same level of exercise because you will be lighter and fitter. I know I've noticed this with my HRM readings

Meleahb

I've had my HRM for about 2 weeks (Polar FT7) not as flash as yours thou. Yes I brought it for the accuracy of the Calories burned and I'm finding that the calories burned is almost DOUBLE to what I have been estimating or what MFP says.

I was also concerned about the heart rate so I went to the chemist today to get my heart rate checked and to compare it to the HRM it was relevantly accurate.

I also agree that Polar aren't very forthright with information. I really want to know what my heart rate should be at certain exercise stages but can't find a thing.

The short answer is just use what your HRM calories burned says. My theory is if you were using a gym machine you wouldn't be doing any deductions.


Please DO NOT TAKE this as gospel, I'm no expert just your typical person trying to get skinny and I think MFP is the right place to be.

nikilis

Myfitness pal is set to 2350 for my base TDEE, with a 1000 calorie deficit (so 1350 calories to eat base).
I just get the figure from my motoactv and take 2350 away from that, then add what's left on as exercise in MFP.

So if the motoactv shows that I burnt 3000 calories, I'd do 3000-2350=650. So I'd enter exercise with a calorie burn of 650.

dude, I've read this like 4 times. I don't get it, can you or anyone explain it to me.

TDEE - 1000 = 1350

3000-2350=650

1350 + 650 = your intake?

im so confused.

geebusuk

Yea, think you've got it.

I've written a load of stuff below, but I think the two important bits are the following...

With a motoactv figure of 3000 calories, I'd want my food intake to be 2000.

For MFP to correctly represent that as 'on target' I need to add an extra 650 to MFP's calculated TDEE of 2350 to make it up to the motoactv TDEE of 3000.

---

Ramblings:

MFP guestimates my TDEE with activity set to level 2 as 2350.
If I have a -1000 deficit, that gives me 1350 calories a day to eat and still be 1000 calories under.

In reality, if I have a slow day, probably won't even burn 2350. (Resting heart rate now around 50, which I'm guessing has helped slow stuff down a bit - certainly seems I'm not burning as much generally.)

But, I don't really care about those figures, because I will have a more accurate figure - my TDEE should be closer to what motoactv says at the end of a day.

So, what I want to end up with is the motoactv figure minus 1000 calories.

So if the motoactv figure is 3000 calories, I'd want my food intake to be 2000.

So if my food intake was 2000, to get MFP to correctly represent that as 'on target' I need to add an extra 650 to MFP's calculated TDEE to make it up to the motoactv TDEE.

MFP would then show me as on target if I did eat 2000 - if I ate 2500 say, it would show me as 500 calories over target.


My diary is open by the way, though I haven't been great recently - days that don't have exercise listed I haven't added, in some cases haven't got around to it, others because I've been doing indoor cycling which I haven't got it to calculate right yet.
The scales were kind yesterday, despite not being great on calories in vs calories out, but I did miss out on recording the dog walk, so maybe nearer to 750 calories down from TDEE. Am at least back to dead on my ticker-weight after a few less-good days .

SuffolkSally

I've had my HRM for about 2 weeks (Polar FT7) not as flash as yours thou. Yes I brought it for the accuracy of the Calories burned and I'm finding that the calories burned is almost DOUBLE to what I have been estimating or what MFP says.

I was also concerned about the heart rate so I went to the chemist today to get my heart rate checked and to compare it to the HRM it was relevantly accurate.

I also agree that Polar aren't very forthright with information. I really want to know what my heart rate should be at certain exercise stages but can't find a thing.

The short answer is just use what your HRM calories burned says. My theory is if you were using a gym machine you wouldn't be doing any deductions.


Please DO NOT TAKE this as gospel, I'm no expert just your typical person trying to get skinny and I think MFP is the right place to be.

I see what you're saying but I wouldn't enter gym machine readings anyway. I've always stuck with MFP estimates for such gym work as I do.

I've searched around the threads, and I see this topuc has come up before with no definitive answer.

So I've now emailed Polar and asked them to clarify... my hunch though is that the HRM records (well, estimates, rather) your total calorie burn for the exercise period, and you therefore need to deduct your BMR... I'm going to do that anyway, err on the side of caution and all that, until I hear from them.

Unless anyone knows for sure..

phoenixgirl81

My burns on the FT7 are LESS than what MFP estimates. Probably because I've developed quite a bit of fitness? I go with what the HRM says. E.g. MFP says my "light effort" on the exercise bike should burn 149 cal, but the HRM says 42-49 depending on the day/effort. I would feel better eating back the HRM cals than the MFP guestimate cals.

If your HRM says you've burned off MORE than what MFP says for all exercise types, I can understand your concern. I don't know the answer to your question as I'm far from expert in this area (have had the HRM for exactly 2 weeks - bought this one based on recommendations on MFP. It's not as flash as yours sounds. No fitness test for me).

Hope you get an answer.

lewis350

I have lost over 12 kg in 3 months this is what i did........I have a polar FT80 (with fitness test), i have MFP set as lightly active. I also put down that I would exercise 4 days per week for 30minutes. I then entered how much weight I wanted to loose per week. Then MFP calculated my daily calorie goal. I then used my HRM each time I exercised and entered that burn into my daily dairy. I found MFP was over estimating my calorie burn compared to my HRM, but I was active and had some fitness before trying to loose weight. If i was hungry i would eat back SOME of my exercise burnt calories. PM if you need further help.

Flowers4Julia

In short ...NO the HRM's do NOT subtract your RMR (or BMR for that matter - calories) you MUST do that for yourself.

Lots of folks don't and that is why things slow down for them...get smart from the beginning!

Best!