Can HRM help determine an accurate TDEE??

Ultragirl2374

I recently purchased a HRM. I was wondering if I were to wear it for 24hrs would it give an fairly accurate TDEE? I am just trying to figure out how close my actual TDEE is compared to what I've estimated it to be.

PurpleTina

My understanding is that a HRM is only effective when you are doing steady state cardio, not for calculating TDEE. I'm not sure why, but I'm sure that someone will be able to explain why.

jacksonpt

No. The calculations made by the HRM assume elevated O2 exchange, which is the cause of increased calorie burns. When you aren't exercising, those assumptions make the HRM number wildly inaccurate.

Ultragirl2374

No. The calculations made by the HRM assume elevated O2 exchange, which is the cause of increased calorie burns. When you aren't exercising, those assumptions make the HRM number wildly inaccurate.

^^^This might make sense. I tried it out yesterday and the number of calories it said I had burned was WAY higher than I expected. Thanks for the explanation!

LoggingForLife

Look into the Bodymedia Fit devices. They give you a number for TDEE and I've found it to be suprisingly accurate.

Timshel_

I think it can help fine tune your TDEE estimate. I found that I was under estimating calories I took in and over estimated calories I burned. I think that is something everyone does because labels are always correct or inclusive of what we eat, and machines or Internet averages for calories burned are usally higher guestimates.

So for the cardio portion of your exercise it can help fine tune. For resting metobolic rate I would just use the average. For lifting and such it is also sketchy for accuracy.