People with HRM's were you burning what you thought?

ebony__
ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,
Just wondering
When you got your heart rate monitor and were able to get more accurate readings of how much you were burning,
Was it a higher amount than you actually thought?
Or a lower amount than you thought.
Or about the same?
Or anything else haha
I've just ordered one. Pretty excited :)

Replies

  • ljprofitt
    ljprofitt Posts: 5 Member
    I got one in the middle of August and it was way higher than I expected (or what Runkeeper calculated). However, this was due to running in 90 degree weather, which causes your heart rate to go higher so your body can cool itself, but not necessarily because you are burning that many more calories. Calories burned is a function of oxygen intake and the heart rate monitor assumes that your heart rate closely corresponds with your oxygen intake. As the weather cooled, the calories burned more closely matched what Runkeeper calculated.

    So, heat, sickness, stress, caffeine, and over training can all cause your heart rate to no longer correspond with your oxygen intake.
  • ebony__
    ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
    Ok cool, that's good to know.
    I guess I'm a little nervous that when I start using ill realise I haven't been burning as many calories as I thought.

    I've been using various apps so far to calculate, like the Nike running app and the lorna Jane app,
    Some of mfp's estimates and other bits and pieces .
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,961 Member
    Just remember that HRM's don't apply to strength training.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ebony__
    ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
    Yeah strength training is a bonus :)
  • skinnyjeanzbound
    skinnyjeanzbound Posts: 3,932 Member
    @OP--I found I was burning about the same--perhaps even a bit more than the online calculators estimated. However, I never trusted MFP's database alone. I always would check my numbers on 2 or 3 calculators and take the average.

    @niner--do you recommend a site for calculating calories burned while strength training? I tend to use healthstatus.com but am always looking for other good online calculators.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,961 Member
    @niner--do you recommend a site for calculating calories burned while strength training? I tend to use healthstatus.com but am always looking for other good online calculators.
    Most are just estimates. If one works out moderately hard enough, the average burn will usually be between 300-400 calories for an hour.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    I found that at low intensity, I was burning less than I thought. And at high intensity I was burning more than I thought. And then I proved out that HIIT was a great way to burn the maximum amount in the shortest period of time.

    All that said, it isn't just a plus food, minus burn thing. Water intake, sodium, potassium, etc. can swing my weight by over 5 - 10lbs.
  • Jewlz280
    Jewlz280 Posts: 547 Member
    Mine was higher. I don't really like to workout outside like running or jogging because where I live there are NO SIDEWALKS but lots and lots of traffic! So, mine was pretty controlled being indoors and when I thought I was only burning like, 80 cals, I was actually burning closer to 125. But my equipment is older, too, sooo... who knows. It did seem like the MFP calculations were a bit high in comparison to the HRM and the machines, both. However, I don't count my strength training at all. I figure if I'm eating at 1800 cals, I have plenty of wiggle room for that!
  • Kimsoontobe
    Kimsoontobe Posts: 110 Member
    I was burning more than what mfp said I was burning.
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    just cause it's a HRM doesn't mean it's accurate. unless you are able to enter your tested hrmax and vo2max its possible to have burns off easily by over 100% if you have a high hr and poor vo2max.

    same reason why people find their calorie burns lower over time. in actual fact, calorie burn for equal exercise does not change much. their hrm was just vastly overestimating their burn, and now that their fitness is improving, it's prob coming close in line with the hrm's pre set variables and starting to show a more accurate burn.

    that said, for your average person a hrm will normally show lower readings than mfp. and def will be far more accurate than mfp for things where your body weight does not matter for calorie burn like bikes, rowers and ellipticals.
  • ebony__
    ebony__ Posts: 519 Member
    Thanks for all the helpful replies. :)
  • Schann7
    Schann7 Posts: 218
    Mine was higher than I expected, which I thought was odd andd thought maybe I got a dodge HRM, but reading a lot of other people have had higher than they expected readings, I am glad it's not just me!
  • leaaa92
    leaaa92 Posts: 164 Member
    You're gonna love your HRM! :) I got mine a couple weeks ago and I honestly thought I was burning less than I actually was. MyFitnessPal over-exaggerates the calorie burn wayy too much. Heart rate monitors are the way to go! :D Have fun burning calories!

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