HRM Results: HOLY CRAP!!!

sbussert
sbussert Posts: 72 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I just finished off a fairly hard 60 minutes on the treadmill and looked down at my new HRM and thought... HOLY CRAP!!! - I only burned 136 Calories in an HOUR? ... then I realized I was looking at my heart rate. Ooops... still figuring it out.

Polar FT7 HRM (Heart Rate Monitor-for those who might not know) Results:

Round 1 results: Treadmill - 60 minutes various speeds and incline averaging 4-5 MPH.
Calories burned by...
MFP - 409
Treadmill Display - 555
HRM - 644 -- Heart Rate average 136-155

Round 2 results: Weight Lifting - 30 Minutes free weight dumbbells and cable for chest and arms
Calories Burned by ...
MFP - 127
HRM - 344 -- HR Average 115-135

Random thoughts...
I am not surprised that MFP would be off because it has no idea the intensity of the weights, reps, difficulty of the exercises... or the speed, incline and effort of the treadmill.

Will it better with the HRM than without? I can only say that the data I log and collect from MFP has helped me lose 30 lbs in 3 months. This additional bit of added data can only help in my efforts. Time will tell.

Have your results been different when you started with your HRM?

Replies

  • ainsleybtown
    ainsleybtown Posts: 484
    that is fantastic. i need to get one of these. Where can you find them?
  • meeper123
    meeper123 Posts: 3,347 Member
    great job and yes I have noticed a lot of diffrences as well you got to keep in mind everyones diffrent and they can not possibly get it right lol I love Hrm for that reason
  • jadams1650
    jadams1650 Posts: 139 Member
    Don't trust it...especially for lifting. Plenty of threads on here about the lack of HRM accuracy for anything but cardio. Also, I have a FT-7 and it always shows fewer calories burned than both MFP and the Machine readout. Make sure you have your statistics set up properly in the watch. I would be really surprised if you are burning that many calories on a treadmill.
  • Cheval13
    Cheval13 Posts: 350 Member
    Your heart rate monitor sounds like it's overestimating calories burned, and that's likey because it's set for a lower maximum heart rate than what yours really is. You may need to perform the tests the booklet gives you to find out your max HR.
  • sbussert
    sbussert Posts: 72 Member
    that is fantastic. i need to get one of these. Where can you find them?

    you can get them most fitness places: http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    Your heart rate monitor sounds like it's overestimating calories burned, and that's likey because it's set for a lower maximum heart rate than what yours really is. You may need to perform the tests the booklet gives you to find out your max HR.

    also be sure to subtract the calories you would have burned anyway by just existing if you are eating your calories back.
  • acogg
    acogg Posts: 1,870 Member
    LOL on the heart rate. My HRM about gave me heart attack! I have been keeping a paper log to give me data on how accurate the burn estimate is vs. my actual loss. It is so weird how the body can weigh more without adding anything, not even food or water. Or how it can lose several pounds within a few hours without doing anything. I am not a fan of HRM's, it seems more like a way to estimate a calorie burn. It's all an estimate, the body will log it accordingly.
  • DawnOBRN
    DawnOBRN Posts: 290 Member
    Love the HRM-def the best tool I've bought to help with weight loss. And I have had them all, Bodybugg, pedometer, FitBit
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    Today I rode my bicycle 28 miles, avg 11.8 mpg. New Polar FT7 HRM said 1669, MFP said 1592. I think that's pretty close for an estimate. I logged the lower number.

    I'll be checking the comparison with the elliptical at my next workout. Interesting research.
  • Mavrick_RN
    Mavrick_RN Posts: 439 Member
    that is fantastic. i need to get one of these. Where can you find them?

    you can get them most fitness places: http://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com

    HRM definately has the best prices. I ordered my Polar FT7 from them two weeks ago. When I got it the transmitter didn't work. e-mailed them and they said I had to mail it back to Polar. Pain in the butt for someone who wants instant gratification, so I went to Best Buy and spent almost $30 more.
  • kluedesigns
    kluedesigns Posts: 72 Member
    thanks for the post.

    i agree that having the data does help improve your weight loss and your fitness training.

    you'll be able to go over the data for a month to see what workouts and intensities yield you the best results.

    when your weight loss stalls you'll be able to compare that data to your training log and determine if you're under or over eating.

    without having accurate training data you're only seeing half the picture.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    Round 2 results: Weight Lifting - 30 Minutes free weight dumbbells and cable for chest and arms
    Calories Burned by ...
    MFP - 127
    HRM - 344 -- HR Average 115-135

    HRM's are not accurate for lifting. As you can see your HR isn't significant enough to rate the burn. I'd use MFP or nothing for lifting.
  • sbussert
    sbussert Posts: 72 Member
    Round 2 results: Weight Lifting - 30 Minutes free weight dumbbells and cable for chest and arms
    Calories Burned by ...
    MFP - 127
    HRM - 344 -- HR Average 115-135

    HRM's are not accurate for lifting. As you can see your HR isn't significant enough to rate the burn. I'd use MFP or nothing for lifting.

    I totally agree. I do think the treadmill is closer based on what I have seen in the last few months. Again, I'll use it as a guide, but my mirror and scale will be the real judge. And if it keeps me motivated, I'll use it.
  • JeneticTraining
    JeneticTraining Posts: 663 Member
    Mine was the opposite --
    FT7 reported fewer calories than the machine.

    But, I love it!

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