HRM, is it useful?

uidb5259
uidb5259 Posts: 138 Member
edited 3:14AM in Fitness and Exercise
I have read a lot about using HRMs on MFP and I was wondering how useful they really are. Can you tell me how they have helped you?

Replies

  • fatboypup
    fatboypup Posts: 1,873 Member
    only if your serious about knowing how many calories you actually expend during exercise. I'd say an HRM and a food scale might be the two best tools if you're serious about losing weight.
  • heddylyn
    heddylyn Posts: 173 Member
    I love mine. It estimates my calories burned based on my personal settings so I feel like it's more accurate than the FP database. It was also a good thing to have in the beginning because I tend to push myself too far and over do it when I'm exercising. Having the heart rate monitor lets me know when my HR is getting too high and I need to slow down. Now that I've been using it for several years I know my body better now and can tell when I am starting to push too hard. I use it primarily to calculate calorie burn now and I love it! I have a Polar FT4.
  • katamus
    katamus Posts: 2,363 Member
    It's ridiculously more accurate than MFP or any other tools. If you use the site the way its set up, you're supposed to eat back exercise calories. Without the HRM I would be under-eating or over-eating.
  • Cyclink
    Cyclink Posts: 517 Member
    If you are looking to do cardio workouts at a specific intensity, they are pretty useful.

    The more it knows about you (gender, height, weight, body composition, etc), the more accurate calorie count it can give you.

    All that said, they are still not perfectly accurate just because heart rate can vary depending on level of fatigue, heat, dehydration, stress, or just time-lag (you are off the treadmill and your heart rate is still up, but you are standing at the water fountain).
  • uidb5259
    uidb5259 Posts: 138 Member
    OK, so if they are useful, which HRM is everyone having success with?
  • mayberry310
    mayberry310 Posts: 146 Member
    Polar is probably what you'll hear most. I purchased my Polar FT4 on Amazon(cheaper than Polar's website). It comes with the chest strap. I think the Polar FT7 has some more bells & whistles, but for calorie burn, knowing my heart rate, and being able to look back at my historical data is all I need.

    On a side note... My FT4 started acting up after I'd had it for a couple weeks and I was pi$$ed. I did some research and found out that you really should wash the chest strap about every 3rd workout. Solved my problem and haven't had any issues since.

    Best of luck!! I wouldn't go back to working out without my HRM now that I have one.
  • olerolls
    olerolls Posts: 70 Member
    I would like to get an HRM, but would love one that can sync information up with an iPhone for training history, etc.. Can the Polar HRMs do that? Any recommendation would be welcomed!
  • mayberry310
    mayberry310 Posts: 146 Member
    I don't know about other Polar models, but the Polar FT4 does not sync. I have looked at the WahooFitness and it syncs through bluetooth (I believe) with your iphone. I had already purchased my Polar HRM before I ever thought about having it all sync together. Which would be a nice feature to have!
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    I just want to find one that will withstand chlorinated pool water.
  • okidoki7
    okidoki7 Posts: 151 Member
    well i got mine yesterday, used it today for the first time and already loving it, although im yet to get full use out of it, but i can see it will be my best buy ever (along with my kindle lol)..

    i have the Polar FT40...
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Echoing what others said, I use mine for more accurate calorie burn, and I like to know where my heart rate is during workouts, especially when I run. Helps me know if I can push harder or need to back off.

    I have New Balance N4 - got it on eBay for $26 (retail is $70), but would have taken a Polar as well, had both on my watchlist, but the New Balance came up first.
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    Before I got my HRM, I was relying on MFP and my bike riding tracker to count my calories for me. How wrong they were. If I went on a bike ride for an hour, I might get a result of 1500 calories burned. Ok cool. That's a lot. Well, I eat my exercise calories back. I couldn't figure out why I didn't lose any weight for well over a month and I think I even gained a pound or two. I was really upset because I was working my butt off. Then I bought my HRM. My 1500 calories burned was more like 500-700. That's a HUGE difference. Once I started wearing my HRM while riding my bike and eating back the proper calories... *gasp* the weight started dropping off again.

    And I also use a New Balance N4.
  • yarmiah
    yarmiah Posts: 325 Member
    I use a PolarFT7 everytime I work out, because I want to see how all my hard work is paying off lol!

    I find the calorie count VERy montivating and am always pushing myself harder to reach a number ending in 25, 50, 75 or 00.

    Mine was purchased for $75.00 on ebay, but have heard they are priced comparably at Target and ****s as well. And I did use mine in the pool with no problem.
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    I would like to get an HRM, but would love one that can sync information up with an iPhone for training history, etc.. Can the Polar HRMs do that? Any recommendation would be welcomed!

    http://www.polarusa.com/us-en/products/accessories/H7_heart_rate_sensor

    You can probably find these a bit cheaper off the Polar site so shop around.
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