Best Calorie Tracker

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MDS369
MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I own the Garmin 305 GPS and while it tracks calories well when engaged in outdoor activities (e.g. walking), it doesn't do a good job tracking alternate / indoor activities (e.g. Turbo Jam). The numbers for walking outdoors etc. are within an acceptable +/- range with sites (MFP and alternates); however, it indicated 20 minutes of Turbo Jam this morning at 58 calories, which is simply not correct (I have 135lbs to lose and work as hard, or harder, during the video as I do walking). It also indicated a treadmill walk, 20 minutes, 3mph at 3% incline as 69 calories.

The batteries were just changed a couple days ago and the system reset as advised by Garmin - again works fine when walking outside.

What device have you found works best for tracking calories, regardless of the activity you're doing?

Thanks for your help and taking time to respond :D

Replies

  • lmeslie
    lmeslie Posts: 46 Member
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    I have a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor and I find that it has always given me an accurate measurement of calories burned. I use it to do indoor activities like the 30 Day Shred as well as when I run.
  • spookygoldfish
    spookygoldfish Posts: 10 Member
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    Hi I have the garmin 305 too.

    Not sure if you realise the 305 only tracks your calories burned from the GPS.

    The heart rate monitor doesn't affect the calories burned shown on the watch!

    If I'm working out indoors I just look at my average HR for my workout then type the info into this website -

    http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    Hope this helps!
  • jaeysson
    jaeysson Posts: 41 Member
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    The Garmin 305 utilizes GPS to track calories. When I use it indoors, I will start the timer as usual and then plug my average heart rate and time into a website. The website I use is http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    At some point I will probably purchase a Polar FT4 or FT7.
  • dbevisjr
    dbevisjr Posts: 183
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    Garmin 305 does not use heart rate for calorie computations. So the only parameters it has to calculate heart rate is the personal info you programmed into it during setup and the distance moved and how long it took to move that distance. To use during your indoor workouts like P90X and others you need a unit that has heart rate based calorie calculations. For Garmin I think that is the 405CX, 610 and maybe the 910. They are somewhat expensive, wish I had one but I have the earlier 405. Or you could try the Polar brand. I think the FT7 and FT4 have that feature but check before you buy.
  • MDS369
    MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
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    I have a Polar FT4 heart rate monitor and I find that it has always given me an accurate measurement of calories burned. I use it to do indoor activities like the 30 Day Shred as well as when I run.

    Thank you:)
  • MDS369
    MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    Hi I have the garmin 305 too.

    Not sure if you realise the 305 only tracks your calories burned from the GPS.

    The heart rate monitor doesn't affect the calories burned shown on the watch!

    If I'm working out indoors I just look at my average HR for my workout then type the info into this website -

    http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    Hope this helps!

    I wondered if that was the case, but was guessing and didn't know for certain; thank you for replying and providing the link. Do you find the calculations to be, what you would consider, fairly accurate from the braydenwm?
  • MDS369
    MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    Hi I have the garmin 305 too.

    Not sure if you realise the 305 only tracks your calories burned from the GPS.

    The heart rate monitor doesn't affect the calories burned shown on the watch!

    If I'm working out indoors I just look at my average HR for my workout then type the info into this website -

    http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    Hope this helps!

    Forgot to add congrats on the weight loss ... outstanding!
  • MDS369
    MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    The Garmin 305 utilizes GPS to track calories. When I use it indoors, I will start the timer as usual and then plug my average heart rate and time into a website. The website I use is http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    At some point I will probably purchase a Polar FT4 or FT7.

    Thank you posting, while I suspected the GPS connection, I didn't know for certain. If the website provides reasonably accurate calculations, why are you considering the Polar series .. convenience?
  • MDS369
    MDS369 Posts: 36 Member
    Options
    Garmin 305 does not use heart rate for calorie computations. So the only parameters it has to calculate heart rate is the personal info you programmed into it during setup and the distance moved and how long it took to move that distance. To use during your indoor workouts like P90X and others you need a unit that has heart rate based calorie calculations. For Garmin I think that is the 405CX, 610 and maybe the 910. They are somewhat expensive, wish I had one but I have the earlier 405. Or you could try the Polar brand. I think the FT7 and FT4 have that feature but check before you buy.

    Thank you for your post and the information. They are pricey (paid about $180 at Costco a couple years ago); which is why I'd love to be able to use it for all my activities, not just outside:)
  • jaeysson
    jaeysson Posts: 41 Member
    Options
    The Garmin 305 utilizes GPS to track calories. When I use it indoors, I will start the timer as usual and then plug my average heart rate and time into a website. The website I use is http://www.braydenwm.com/calburn.htm

    At some point I will probably purchase a Polar FT4 or FT7.

    Thank you posting, while I suspected the GPS connection, I didn't know for certain. If the website provides reasonably accurate calculations, why are you considering the Polar series .. convenience?

    Yeah, for convenience and they are known for their HRMs. I'm inside the gym doing cardio more than outside running so it makes sense for me.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
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    I didn't know that about the Garmin 305. I have the 410 and it tracks whether the satellites are available or not. I also use a foot pod that helps it to measure steps taken/distance traveled in the absence of a satellite signal.
  • waldenfam2
    waldenfam2 Posts: 203 Member
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    Mine's not a heart rate monitor but I use the Bodybugg which I love, however, if I had to purchase it all over again I would have purchased the Bodymedia (I didn't know about it at the time). They track your calories burned for the day, steps taken, etc.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
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    For everyone using the Brayden website with that Polar study formula, the VO2max stat would of course improve accuracy.

    If you haven't gotten yours through test, or estimate, there happens to be a study that showed a very accurate estimate can be gained by running through a formula that uses bodyfat% and other info.

    Details here.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/577839-hrm-s-with-vo2max-stat-improve-calorie-estimate

    If you'd rather have it in a spreadsheet, and just enter your details, use the spreadsheet referenced here - HRM tab at bottom.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/677905-spreadsheet-for-bmr-tdee-deficit-calc-macro-calc-hrm

    I'll add, once you use the spreadsheet, you'll know what I'm referring to.
    If you exercise 4-5 hrs a week aerobic or better intensity, use PAR of 8.
    If 6 or more hrs weekly, use PAR 9.

    That's what Garmin's newer watches with Firstbeat algorithms do to get better estimate of VO2max for real athletic types, which the study says you may start losing accuracy on.

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