Does your HRM accurately estimate calorie burn???

HallerFitness
HallerFitness Posts: 56
in Fitness and Exercise
I want to buy a device that will tell me how many calories I burn for things like workout DVDs, doing 100 squats in my living room, or going to a yoga class. I thought the FitBit gizmos would do this but they don't. What do other poeple use and how much do they trust the readings? Thanks for your advice!

Replies

  • phjorg
    phjorg Posts: 252 Member
    hrm are only effective while doing steady state cardio. anything else and it's a random number being spit back at you.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Some great posts written by people who actually know and understand how HRMs work

    The Real Facts about HRMs and Calories -- What you need to know before purchasing an HRM (or using one)
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak?month=201003
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak?month=201005


    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/773451-is-my-hrm-giving-me-incorrect-calorie-burn


    TL:DR - what pjhorg said, except even in steady state there are still other factors that can affect the accuracy
  • HallerFitness
    HallerFitness Posts: 56
    3dogs, thank you!!
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I should have added that a lot of people here blindly believe their HRM to be the most accurate estimate out there. It is repeated time and time again. I am not against HRMs, just promoting information about how they really work.
  • HallerFitness
    HallerFitness Posts: 56
    I appreciate that so much!!!

    I have been researching this and have a hard time finding accurate information. I want to know how many calories I burn for something like yoga but I fear that to accurately do that with any HRM, I'll probably have to spend like $350 or more. Guess I don't want to know that bad.

    I jsut wish there was a better way to estimate. I see people logging 1200 calories burned for 30 minutes on a treadmill, and I think "That is hard to believe." I just wanted something more accurate.
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,218 Member
    3Dogs beat me to the link on Heart Rate Monitors. It's an excellent resource.

    And you're right...too many people mistakenly think HRM's are measuring their caloric burns during exercise. Uh no.

    Personally, I use both an HRM (for my 35 minutes on the elliptical) and my Fitbit (to track my activity the rest of the day). After 400+ days with my Fitbit, its calorie burn estimates over the course of the day and estimate of what I can eat on an given day have been very accurate.
  • HallerFitness
    HallerFitness Posts: 56
    I found this response on one of the posts you linked me to. I think it's brilliant. I am not a sedentary person trying to lose weight but I'm also not a super athlete. I've always enjoyed working out and I'm in relatively good shape. So really why do I really care about calories burned for an hour of yoga?? That's what I am now asking myself. Thanks for all the great links. It's really got me thinking. I appreciate it! I get that these devices can prove useful for people. No judgment there! And I get that people trying to lose weight might have a more vested interest in calories burned. No problem there either. I just wonder if it might be overload for me specifically.

    "This is exactly why I no longer use a HRM, and just roll my eyes when I read posts after posts how people praise the accuracy of their Polar, FitBit, or BodyBugg. I don't worry about how many calories I burned doing whatever exercise, and certainly could care less how many I burned mowing the lawn. I would never consider eating back exercise calories because the entire practice is based on a lie. That lie being that you can somehow measure how many calories you are burning in the first place.

    "Figure out your TDEE as best you can using an honest daily activity level, reduce your calorie intake by a certain amount, then, over a few weeks, see how you feel, how much you are losing, and adjust accordingly. It isn't rocket science and you certainly do not need to become a slave to some device that should come with the disclaimer "for entertainment purposes only". IMO, way too many sheep are just assuming their devices or apps are accurate, and are blindly eating those calories back.

    "I saw this thread yesterday and found it comical that it had no responses. I have seen similar posts go by the way side with few responses in the past. I think it is because there are a lot of people out there who do not want to believe it and just choose to ignore this kind of information. Too many people "need" to know what they are burning, just as much as they need to know exactly what they are consuming. To many, it is an obsession, and many will never accept the fact that they are not going to accurately know what they burn, EVER!"
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Exactly! And I bet I can guess who posted that. :)

    ETA- actually, I was wrong, but I know a few people with the same sentiment.
  • raven56706
    raven56706 Posts: 918 Member
    so a fitbit is more accurate than a Polar FT7 w/chest strap?


    just wondering because i want to make sure i get the one that gives the most accurate number...
  • themedalist
    themedalist Posts: 3,218 Member
    I found this response on one of the posts you linked me to. I think it's brilliant. I am not a sedentary person trying to lose weight but I'm also not a super athlete. I've always enjoyed working out and I'm in relatively good shape. So really why do I really care about calories burned for an hour of yoga?? That's what I am now asking myself. Thanks for all the great links. It's really got me thinking. I appreciate it! I get that these devices can prove useful for people. No judgment there! And I get that people trying to lose weight might have a more vested interest in calories burned. No problem there either. I just wonder if it might be overload for me specifically.

    It really all does depend on the person. Calories in and calories out are all estimation, but trackers can be useful in many situations. If you are happy with your progress and are feeling good, your food and exercise calorie estimates are likely pretty good.

    I've had a 20+ year career in research, so data (even estimates) have a special place in my heart. :happy: I know that my HRM and Fitbit helped a lot in getting to my goal weight and staying there the last 10 months. Doesn't mean it will work for everyone.

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