What kind of HRM do you have?

If you're on a budget don't get one. It's not necessary at all. I promise you that you can lose fat just as quickly without an HRM. Heck, I better you lose more faster without one. Set up and follow a work out schedule, eat sensibly, track everything. If at some later date you have $100 to waste and an HRM still floats your boat, go ahead. But please don't feel like you can't reach your goals without strapping a $100 gadget to your chest every day. I know someone from the Cult of HRM is going to bounce in here and say you aren't serious about fitness unless you have one, but they are wrong wrong wrong.

Best of luck reaching your fitness goals.

I spent $26 on mine on Amazon, it was a Pulsesonic. I used it for quite a few months but felt it got to be a competition/obsession to burn x amount of calories. It was definitely useful, though!!

I bought the Polar FT4 based on my research and comments from other users. I'm loving it so far.... I wanted to have a more accurate reading of the calories I burn. I used it for a Zumba class yesterday and was surprised by the calories I burned. I bought mine on Amazon for $60 since stores near me wanted nearly $100 for it. Definitely a good investment. I hope you find one that fits your weight loss and budget needs.

like Dav said. you really don't need one. the 'calorie burn' you get off those is basically an estimate.

Not sure if I should post this question as a new topic, but how can you tell if you're HRM is accurate?

Not sure if I should post this question as a new topic, but how can you tell if you're HRM is accurate?

You can't. Even though it is more accurate than machines, etc. it is still ultimately an estimate

like Dav said. you really don't need one. the 'calorie burn' you get off those is basically an estimate.

But a better and more personal estimate than you get from other sources. It is all estimates Calories in, out, BMI, BMR, etc.

My wife loves watching her zone on her FT7 polar I love seeing what percent of fat I burned on my FT60 polar as well as its training programs. They are not really necessary but they can be informative and fun and if you feel like rewarding yourself go ahead.

They do have limitations, they won't tell you Kcals burned by muscle use eg. weight lifting but the aerobic part better than nothing IMO.

The FT60 and FT 80 will give you a Gage of your fitness level so that is fun to see progress in. Polar USA will help you select and see features but the more bells and whistles the more cost. Pick one based on your goals and type of exercise.

I have a polar FT7. Like others said it is not necessary. I wanted to see how much I was burning during lifting mostly. If possible borrow one if only for a few workouts to gadge whether MFP estimates are decent for the way you are exercising. It is nice to see the numbers you are burning since we see so many numbers with food going in.

If you *do* decide to get one, my advice is to shell out $100ish for a decent Polar (or some other reputable brand) model and not a bargain cheaper one.

Not necessarily because the more expensive one will be better or more accurate, but because you paid so much for it, you'll be more likely to want to use it to justify the expense. And when you're using a HRM, you're (presumably) actually doing something, and that's a good thing.

(But seriously, I plan to pick up one of the popular Polar models to satisfy my own curiosity.)

Don't listen to that negative guy. If I had not bought a HRM I never would have found out how many calories I burn while driving to the gym in my car
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Side note....anyone want to buy a hardly used Polar HRM?

Well im obviously looking for one...how much?

:laugh: :laugh: