Totally different readings from HRM and MFP

rai8759
rai8759 Posts: 296 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey,

Just did Turbo Jam for about 42 minutes. My heart rate monitor told me I burned 282 calories. MFP told me I burned over 600... thoughts?

I didn't slack either.. did my best. Jumped around and poured sweat like the best of them. =)

Replies

  • Jkmumma
    Jkmumma Posts: 254
    Trust the heart rate monitor, BUT make sure the placement and it's functioning are correct too.
  • RobynBourgeois
    RobynBourgeois Posts: 51
    When I do exercises that are more than just steps (walking, etc) I always use what my HRM says.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'd trust the HRM - it was after all strapped around your chest and actually monitoring your activity. MFP is more guessing what you might have been doing...
  • Pammy820
    Pammy820 Posts: 117 Member
    MFP overestimates....go with HRM!
  • mmimmi1
    mmimmi1 Posts: 49 Member
    what did you log it as? what kind of exercise?
  • jocybee83
    jocybee83 Posts: 155 Member
    MFP goes off of what someone else has entered for their weight, height, and age. Your HRM is most accurate for you.
  • NobodyInParticular
    NobodyInParticular Posts: 352 Member
    I run and strength train and my HRM always has me burning more calories than MFP estimates. So I have the opposite problem. Still, I stay with what the HRM says.
  • dragonfly_em
    dragonfly_em Posts: 122 Member
    if i used MFP values i should almost have achieved my goal loss rather than having a year to go as i'd be way under my net daily calories
  • misskris78
    misskris78 Posts: 136 Member
    Unless you are large, 600 calories for a turbo jam workout is excessive. I'm 140 lbs and to get 10 calories a minute means I need to be all out at something extreme like insanity, or the turbo fire HIIT classes. I think the 282 from the HRM is accurate.
  • SJCon
    SJCon Posts: 224
    Trust the heart rate monitor, BUT make sure the placement and it's functioning are correct too.

    Agree and sress that if you are jumping around etc. you chest strap may be losing contact, see how the next one compares.
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    MFP can't measure your actual level of effort; the HRM can. I'm not saying you didn't work hard, but MFP is going to give that same number of calories for someone who gave 110% and can barely stand at the end of the workout and someone who just sort of moved around for 42 minutes.
  • photocolorful
    photocolorful Posts: 19 Member
    I think it depends on the brand.. I have a sportsline one and it would give me bogus calories. Like 200 an hour? For working out like a mad woman? Make sure you have a good one! 282 calories sounds way low for turbo! unless you did it for like 25 minutes...
  • photocolorful
    photocolorful Posts: 19 Member
    BTW, my HRM USED to be accurate. Not sure what is wrong with it. It normally would give me a 700-800 calorie burn for an hour... I am doing the same workout, actually more intense and it would say 250. I KNOW that is not accurate!
  • SJCon
    SJCon Posts: 224
    BTW, my HRM USED to be accurate. Not sure what is wrong with it. It normally would give me a 700-800 calorie burn for an hour... I am doing the same workout, actually more intense and it would say 250. I KNOW that is not accurate!
    [/quote

    An intermittent signal could be the case from a worn chest strap or weak batteries in either the strap or watch. Note some early straps by Polar and others would not allow you to change batteries
  • photocolorful
    photocolorful Posts: 19 Member
    Mine doesn't have a chest strap but I have wondered if it is the battery, hmmm..
  • mvl1014
    mvl1014 Posts: 531
    If your HRM wasn't setup with your age, gender, and weight, I'd take the MFP number. You could always try a 3rd source, like Wolfram Alpha
  • rai8759
    rai8759 Posts: 296 Member
    hmm.. well I haven't changed the battery in awhile. I just kind of assumed it wouldn't turn on if the battery was too low.

    To answer some of the questions:

    I put it in under "Kickboxing, including Turbo Jam"
    I weigh about 200 lb, 5 feet 5.5 inches tall
    I would say my effort was moderate
    The full work out is 42 minutes. Excluding warm up and cool down I'd say I went full force for 35 minutes

    I do think that 282 is enough.. but I agree that over 600 is CRAZY!!

    I think I need new batteries and to get my belt tightened.
  • SassyCalyGirl
    SassyCalyGirl Posts: 1,932 Member
    I think it depends on the brand.. I have a sportsline one and it would give me bogus calories. Like 200 an hour? For working out like a mad woman? Make sure you have a good one! 282 calories sounds way low for turbo! unless you did it for like 25 minutes...

    I have a Sportline with a chest strap and it is very accurate. Perhaps you should check your batteries.
  • photocolorful
    photocolorful Posts: 19 Member
    I have a Sportline with a chest strap and it is very accurate. Perhaps you should check your batteries.
    [/quote]

    I'll have to do that! Thanks! :)
  • photocolorful
    photocolorful Posts: 19 Member
    I have a Sportline with a chest strap and it is very accurate. Perhaps you should check your batteries.
    [/quote]


    I'll have to do that! Thanks!!
  • carrietehbear
    carrietehbear Posts: 384 Member
    I run and strength train and my HRM always has me burning more calories than MFP estimates. So I have the opposite problem. Still, I stay with what the HRM says.

    I have the same problem. I trust what my HRM says.
  • pikselinka
    pikselinka Posts: 154 Member
    Go with HRM, that's what I do, plus I deduct calories for my BRM for workout time, which leaves me with calories I have burned for sure and can eat back if I want to. But that's just me ;)
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    if ur HRM has chest strap go with the hrm

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