Circuit Training and HRMs

DeeDiddyGee
DeeDiddyGee Posts: 601 Member
edited January 23 in Fitness and Exercise
Quick question. I used my new Polar FT7 HRM tonight at the gym. I lifted weights via Nautilus circuit. The HRM said I burned 138 calories for a 41 minute workout. Does this seem correct? From the way I was sweating, Iwould have thought it would have been higher.

Help?

Thanks!

Dee

Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    Hard to say, because:

    i wasn't there
    i don't know your weight
    i don't know your bf%
    i don't know how intensely you worked out
    i don't know how long you rested between sets
    i don't know how many total reps and sets you completed
  • DeeDiddyGee
    DeeDiddyGee Posts: 601 Member
    Hard to say, because:

    i wasn't there
    i don't know your weight
    i don't know your bf%
    i don't know how intensely you worked out
    i don't know how long you rested between sets
    i don't know how many total reps and sets you completed

    Understood.
  • chymerra
    chymerra Posts: 212
    the amount of sweat doesn't indicate how hard your heart was working. if you wore it correctly (chest strap and correctly calibrated etc), then i'd say it's correct.

    when i lift, i don't burn as many calories because it doesn't really raise my heart rate as HIIT cardio (for example).
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    Based on the weight in your ticker, I think you should be burning more... what exactly were you doing? Just weight lifting? I'll wait for those who hate HRM to explain why you probably shouldn't use it for lifting. Personally, I think you should be burning more either way.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Based on the weight in your ticker, I think you should be burning more... what exactly were you doing? Just weight lifting? I'll wait for those who hate HRM to explain why you probably shouldn't use it for lifting. Personally, I think you should be burning more either way.

    Hi.

    I don't hate HRMs, I even use one. Its not that you shouldn't be using it for lifting, you can go ahead, it just that HRMs are not designed for it. They base their calorie estimates on a known relationship between VO2 max and HR during steady state cardio. The elevation in HR during lifting has nothing to do with VO2 and does not fit in that formula. However, your HRM does not know the difference and assumes that it does so gives you a number.
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/community/ask_the_experts.asp?q=75
  • dixiewhiskey
    dixiewhiskey Posts: 3,333 Member
    :laugh: There ya go, probably the nicest explanation I've seen so far about this subject on the forums. :smile:

    OP Use your HRM for cardio and let us know what you get
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