Heart Rate Monitor?

I can only tell you what I have.

I have a Polar FT60. It is water resistant, so you can swim with it on and there's no issues when you are drenched in sweat. I find that although it cannot predict EXACTLY what I burn, over time, I have learned to use the hrm to gauge how hard a workout is for me. Now I know that when I'm pushing and I feel like I can't go any more, it's not my brain giving up, it's my heart rate maxing out...I can see it right there on my wrist.

Polar FT60 has a chest strap that I wear under my breasts and directly under my sports bra.

I cannot tell you what heart rate to aim for, because you'll have to figure out what your max heart rate is. Mine is around 212. I figured that out through actual sprinting and running. The formula that is supposed to be for women to predict max heart rate puts my max around 183, which is no where NEAR what my max is. Anyway, after you use it a while, you will pair the exertion you are feeling with the number on the screen. I can tell you from memory right now what my heart rate will be doing a certain run or exercise.

Absolute best weight loss/motivation/training tool I own.

Cheapest I found my hrm was here: http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/

From my experience the hrm was neccessary! Mfp was completely off for my calorie burns I use a reebox version, which works great! Just make sure you get one with a chest strap!

Is it worth purchasing a heart rate monitor?

No

And what is the heart rate I should aim for?

None, because your heart rate has nothing to do with getting in shape

Does it really help ?

Absolutely not. Most likely it will be detrimental to your goals, unless one of your goals in entering the heart rate Olympics

I usually do cardio , when I do it, until my tshirt is soaked in sweat.....

Excellent. Why do you need a heart rate monitor to confirm that you worked out?

Which brands are good?

They are all equally useless in helping you reach your goals

Should I get one that calculates calories burnt too?

Have you been listening? You shouldn't get one at all.

No idea what to do......

Save your money and just work out

I love my Polar HRM

None, because your heart rate has nothing to do with getting in shape

Lies. Post-exercise Heart Rate Recovery is related to VO2max, which is the best measure of cardiovascular fitness and exercise capacity. Faster HRR---->better CV fitness.

When does ESPN broadcast the CV FItnessLympics? Or does NBC have the rights to that too? I just love the background stories they do on all the CV Athletes. That stuff is so moving. Getting teary thinking about it. They all have such big hearts!

Yeah they're very beneficial on a number of fronts. The FT-4 is entry level in terms of pricing but it gives you everything you'd really want or need.

Thanks! Great info! Today, I bought the Polar FS100. Does yours beep with every heartbeat? The manual does not address the beeping?

Never mind:happy: found the whole manual online.

Lies. Post-exercise Heart Rate Recovery is related to VO2max, which is the best measure of cardiovascular fitness and exercise capacity. Faster HRR---->better CV fitness.

I think the point of that write up is based on the OP's likely current goals.

Which is nothing to do with CV fitness or performance. It's about getting a workout. At some point it may include performance, or being doing so much that having a better idea of calorie burn would be useful.

And if the pace is the same, the caloric burn is the same. Your own fitness level improves the carbs or fat being burned, but the calories stays the same.

I was just ribbing dave. You're right.

/kicks rocks.

Well, anyways, impulsive as I am, I was today in Marshalls so I picked up something called Mio Triumph

You're going to be disappointed. If you really could get a constant accurate heart rate without a chest strap then Polar or Garmin would be selling their products without them.

What do you want a HRM for? If you're just running inside on a treadmill then you can probably just use the guesstimate on the machine as being okay enough. I wouldn't take more than 10 calories a minute as your calories burned though. Is there a reason for you to know your heart rate or are you just wanting to measure calories burned? What are you doing for cardio exercise?

I thought about getting one of the ones from Walmart but i dont know if i want the watch one or chest strap one. I have heard the strap is more accurate.

It is. The non-strap one usually requires you to hold your fingers to some sensors. So it takes the inaccuracy out of just counting it manually, but you still are stopping for some seconds to get a count. That is accurate right then.

But what about the other 97% of the workout time?

Get the chest strap one.

And if you are interested in calorie counts, that will be really bad with a cheaper HRM

Just take your workout time and the average HR during the session that should be given to you when finished, to the spreadsheet linked in this post, the HRM tab.
You'll get the Polar formula treatment with all the tweaks even the cheaper Polar's don't have.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/813720-spreadsheet-bmr-tdee-deficit-macro-calcs-hrm-zones

I have a Polar F7 and love it. I know the calories might not be accurate but it gives me a great comparison between cardio activities. I found that walking burns very little, jogging burns a lot, Body Step is awesome. It also motivates me to push a bit harder if my heart rate is low.

I wouldn't say it's a miracle tool but it has been very useful for me. I don't use it all the time now, I have a pretty good idea of what exercises to do, and for how long, and at what intensity.

I got a Garmin 310 (I think) on craig's list from someone upgrading to a new one. Works for me but I rately use the HRM part - mostly use the GPS functions. But I'm a fair-weather runner - so haven't used it for a few months - too cold to run outside now. :-(

If I had nuts, Mio could suck them... you know almonds, peanuts, walnuts.

Mio is crap and they suck. And they are overpriced.

My opinion.

I would like to thank everybody for the input!
I learned more than I was hoping
Well, anyways, impulsive as I am, I was today in Marshalls so I picked up something called Mio Triumph for $39.99 + tax .... ( 13% here in Ontario). Expensive if you ask me.... I decided I can play with it a little and return it if I loose my interest.... at least I get to satisfy my curiosity....
So far, I haven't quite figured out how to use it....
I'll come back and post my feedback on it soon

Is it worth purchasing a heart rate monitor? And what is the heart rate I should aim for?
Does it really help ?
I usually do cardio , when I do it, until my tshirt is soaked in sweat.....
Which brands are good? S
Should I get one that calculates calories burnt too?
No idea what to do......

IMHO, it's only useful if you want to use it as a training aid, and do some reading first. With proper use, you can increase your speed and endurance more than without one, but 99% of people who use one, don't.

Check out some books like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Total-Heart-Rate-Training-Customize/dp/1569755620/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1355930117&sr=8-8&keywords=training+by+heart+rate

There is lots of research about tailoring your training to LTHR zones for best results.

HOWEVER - if you are just looking to burn calories/"get in shape", they really are next to useless