Heart Rate Monitor? Should I Get One?

2»

Replies

  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Hey Kansas Boy, all good stuff, I may be wrong but I think the FT60 is less than the RS300x and estimates a VO2 as well. The Polar Beat App also does it "Fitness Test" and the App with upgrades is only $8 (App is free but full upgrades are $8). Again you can use the App for mapping your run, fitness levels, etc. for the price of an H7 chest strap. You can also Buy a Foot pad as Steve2kay talks about for it and sync that as well. Total cost of the package is much less.

    Here in the states the RS300X is $90, the FT60 is $130.

    You can also pair things with the RS300X later if desired, cadence speed sensor for bike, GPS module for outside, footpod for inside running. Pretty nice expansion on it.

    I had heard about that Polar app being able to do that too. All they really do is measure the resting HR, use your self entered athlete level, confirm with some R-R readings in the heart beat, and actually still use the BMI, to estimate the VO2max. But below a certain very athletic level, it's potential for accuracy is very good according to the study they took the method from.

    But for complete package, and carrying your phone anyway, that is excellent price for that stuff.
  • dannyferris9
    dannyferris9 Posts: 9
    HRMs are great for gauging your training zone. Someone on an earlier thread said that they are only good for steady state cardio. Well that is true to an extent.

    I have a polar and use it for swimming, running, biking and interval training. So not just useful for one thing, and the interval training isn't so steady state.

    There are a range of ones available from ones that require chest bands to ones that don't. Or you can just get the bands that then sync via an app to your Phone. It doesn't get easier than that. You can see a selection with brief details of good ones here http://www.myheartbeatmonitor.com.

    I agree with an other reviewer the results and readings may not be as accurate as a medical reading, but for everyday exercise it will tell you if you are in the right zone to achieve your fitness goals.

    My advice get one you won't regret it.

    Danny
  • book_lover123
    book_lover123 Posts: 7
    I just got a polar ft last week and am completely loving it! I did not find my mfp calorie burn to be even close to what my hrm says. For example, mfp said that I burned over 800 calories for a 48 minute cardio DVD when I only burned 491 calories... Maybe the numbers will be more similar once I'm smaller? Idk. But I LOOOVE my hrm :)
  • pkteen
    pkteen Posts: 121 Member
    Exactly the info i needed. I'm going to buy one too now...
  • Patzycakes
    Patzycakes Posts: 175 Member
    Why isn't a HRM good for yoga? Just curious. That is my primary work out (vinyasa/power yoga) and I was thinking of getting a HRM because I can't find a good estimate of how many calories I"m actually burning (too much of a range.. some sites estimate at my weight I burn 230kph some as high as 600kph...) .. I log the lowest est. I found for my daily log.
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    Why isn't a HRM good for yoga? Just curious. That is my primary work out (vinyasa/power yoga) and I was thinking of getting a HRM because I can't find a good estimate of how many calories I"m actually burning (too much of a range.. some sites estimate at my weight I burn 230kph some as high as 600kph...) .. I log the lowest est. I found for my daily log.

    Because some yoga, the more stretching meditative type, doesn't even push the HR in to the exercise zone, found to be about 90 for men and women.
    Some yoga, hot yoga, has really high HR, not because you are working at such a high intensity the heart must beat faster to provide required oxygen, but much like lifting, internal pressures and isometric contractions, which you could do holding your breath actually, except I'm guessing you are suppose to practice breathing, not holding breath.

    Actually, if doing the yoga that sends the HR up, watch your breathing rate, how many breaths per minute, or if that's too distracting, just notice how frequent it seems.
    After the session go jump on at treadmill and get speed and incline such the HR is at the same level. Now what is the breathing rate doing in comparison?

Categories