What exercise tracker?

t1nk6
t1nk6 Posts: 215
in Fitness and Exercise
What do you use and recommend?

Replies

  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    helps greatly if you tell us what type of exercise you're tracking
  • t1nk6
    t1nk6 Posts: 215
    Walking running swimming zumba... I just want something to calculate how many calories Im burning
  • bwogilvie
    bwogilvie Posts: 2,130 Member
    For continuous aerobic exercise, the gold standard is a heart rate monitor. Ones that ask for your maximum and resting heart rates are more accurate than those that ask only for height, weight, and age. Remember to reset the weight every time you lose 5 lbs.!

    HRMs aren't completely accurate, especially for women,* but they're better than other ways of estimating expenditure.

    *One study of the Polar F6 showed that, even calibrated with subjects' actual VO2max and HRmax, it overestimated energy expenditure by 27% (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21178923). An earlier study showed that the Polar S410 overestimated energy expenditure in women by 12% (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15292754). Another study found that the Polar S810i overestimated expenditure when exercising lightly but not moderately (http://www.jssm.org/vol9/n3/21/v9n3-21abst.php). The research seems to suggest that HRMs are less accurate for women than they are for men.
  • _xXJennXx_
    _xXJennXx_ Posts: 3,290 Member
    I've been using the free runkeeper app, but just downloaded the runtastic free app the other day being that that one is now compatible with mfp. Now I don't have to enter my exercise. :)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,458 Member
    Whatever you pick, just continue to use it and don't jump around from one calculator to another. Then you will at least have a stable platform of data to work with. None of them are going to be accurate - they all use estimates based on an similar algorithms.

    I figure I'm not training for a marathon or triathalon, and my one hour of exercise gets entered the same every time. Even though I have a heart rate monitor, I don't even use it anymore. It's more about record keeping and consistency.
  • _xXJennXx_
    _xXJennXx_ Posts: 3,290 Member
    I like seeing how many calories burned, even though it's not as many as when I first started. But it's still working. :)
  • t1nk6
    t1nk6 Posts: 215
    I'll look into the runtastic app .. yea just want a record and something that tell me how many calories burned, a bonus if compatible with mfp makes it easier thanks :)

    i was reading up on fitbit , is it worth paying out all that cash if there's free apps?
  • sugaree1202
    sugaree1202 Posts: 184 Member
    I found an eBay vendor that has MIO HRM watches for way below retail - under $30, retail is $80+. They claim EKG/ECG accuracy and mine is always within 3bpm when I check it. I also found independent reviews that compared it to Polar HRMs and it was accurate. It determines calorie burn based on RHR, height & weight. There's also an exertion display, % of MHR & some models have a food log too. The link is stores.ebay.com/N-Y-Bill if you're interested.
  • t1nk6
    t1nk6 Posts: 215
    thanks i'll take a look, i've just been looking at the polar ones.. has anybody tried them out?
  • tleighs64
    tleighs64 Posts: 12
    I bought a fitbit on ebay for $40. Had it for over a year and it works great. I like it because it is small, I can wear it on my bra strap and can check it throughout the day to make sure I am on track with my daily step goal. I like the sleep activity monitor function as well. Helped me understand I wa a very restless sleeper. I have adjusted my diet and bedtimes and have been doing better.
  • dan323
    dan323 Posts: 271 Member
    Endumundo is also comparable with MFP. I used a Timex HRM and it worked fine. I also use RunKeeper as my running app,and just started using Gamin Connect.
  • sugaree1202
    sugaree1202 Posts: 184 Member
    thanks i'll take a look, i've just been looking at the polar ones.. has anybody tried them out?

    The FT60 is on my wish list, F4 is really popular too - both models have the best reviews and features if you're looking to track calorie output
  • taku240se
    taku240se Posts: 14
    I just bought a polar ft4 last week and its perfect for what I need. I wore it out in the yard today when cutting and bundling tree branches with my husband and I burned ~700 calories in 1:45. Very fascinating info, a lot more calories than i thought. Also wore it in the pool once and in the shower to rinse it off with no issues.

    I also got a little bummed that i only burn about 200-250cal when doing the 30 day shred with Jillian. So i took to the street and found a slow jog for 18 minutes the other night burned more calories than with 30DS.

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