Calories - Heart Rate Monitor

Athena42006

Before I log my workout - I need help. New to this HRM thing. I amd very out of shape (5 feet short, 180 lbs) I usually use a fitbit to calculate my calories but my dog ate it so I want to use the HRM to calculate calories. i went out in the heat and humidity of Texas, running intervals (4:1) average of 17 min mile for 80 min, accelerating whenever my HR went below 150 and bounding up 5 flights of stairs at the turn around point. GPS say I traveled a little over 4 miles. My cardiotrainer app say I burned 560calories but that is based on my weight and time only I believe. My HRM says I burned 870. What is a reasonable number to log?

Also, my max HR was 175. It is my understanding that this is an indicator of my exertion level and inefficiency of my out of shape body. Currently, I am supposed to raise my heart rate as much as I can to burn calories and condition my heart. As I get fitter, should it be harder to achieve a higher heart rate? Will it be harder to burn calories but my perceived exertion be less because i am fitter? Is my thinking correct?

bobf279

I use my HRM as part of a garmin forerunner, I also use Runkeeper and both are in the same area as regards calories so I would say the HRM won't be far off.

As regards your heart rate I don't think you should be pushing to the limit you will find the heart rate will drop as you get fitter

mlmoran72

I am not a HRM expert, but I have been using one to exercise for a long time. The more out of shape you are, the more calories you are probably burning, so I would start out using your HRM calories for now. Eventually you will feel more comfortable with being able to compare your harder runs with your easier ones and see that the calories are adjusting accordingly. I am assuming that a Garmin or comparable is using Heart Rate, Distance, and Time to calculate calories. Possibly age and weight? I also use a calculator I found on shapesense.com that I think it great because it uses average heart rate, which I think accurately reflects how hard I have worked on that workout. Of note, my heart rate goes high and I am in good shape. I think you will see your heart rate go down at rest much sooner as you get more fit. Have fun!

http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

gettinfitin13

Your maximum HR is 175 - but you should determine what % of that you want to work at. Ex: 85% of your max HR is 148-149bpm and that is an aerobic building pace. If you want to burn fat maybe you should come down in exertion and extended the duration of your exercise.

phjorg

Your maximum HR is 175 - but you should determine what % of that you want to work at. Ex: 85% of your max HR is 148-149bpm and that is an aerobic building pace. If you want to burn fat maybe you should come down in exertion and extended the duration of your exercise.

if you want to burn fat you eat less calories than you expend. the fuel source of your workout is completely useless metric to go by. instead your goal should be go go as hard as you can, for as long as you can.