Are HRM's really that accurate?

Cherryblosm3
Cherryblosm3 Posts: 106 Member
edited January 18 in Fitness and Exercise
So I'd like some opinions: I use a HRM whenever I do anything exercise-ish. It's figured to my height, age, weight, sex, etc. but how accurate are these really?? When i use the treadmill, i put in my height, age, weight, etc. and the difference in calories burned between my HRM and the treadmill is HUGE! Thoughts?? What would be the best item to get THE MOST ACCURATE calorie burn count? Thanks!

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    They are the most accurate as it takes into account all of your stats as well as distance, speed, etc...but still an estimate. Nothing is 100% when it comes to calorie burn. Machines and data bases base their burns on averages for distance and speed and nothing else.
  • jaygreen55
    jaygreen55 Posts: 315 Member
    So I'd like some opinions: I use a HRM whenever I do anything exercise-ish. It's figured to my height, age, weight, sex, etc. but how accurate are these really?? When i use the treadmill, i put in my height, age, weight, etc. and the difference in calories burned between my HRM and the treadmill is HUGE! Thoughts?? What would be the best item to get THE MOST ACCURATE calorie burn count? Thanks!

    Heart rate monitors estimate but do not actually measure your calories burned. There are a lot of factors that influence your exercise heart rates other than the calories you're burning. These include overall fitness (the fitter you are the lower your heart rate will be at any level of exertion), over training (too much exercise will jack up your heart rate), lack of sleep, medications, heavy drinking the night before, recreational drug use and many others
  • Cherryblosm3
    Cherryblosm3 Posts: 106 Member
    Ok. thanks guys! I guess using a HRM is better than just relying on the treadmill/machine. I will stick to using my Polar :)
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
    No... but most are generally precise.
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