Is a heart rate monitor necessary?

My Polar FT7 is one of the best purchases I've ever made, not even just for fitness but over anything else in general. As for an arm and a leg, it depends how you're pricing your arms and legs. I'd suggest finding the lowest price using the google shopping tool (or just Amazon) then finding a coupon code for that particular site... you'll probably get the best deal out there that way.

If you like gadgets get an HRM. They aren't terribly useful in my opinion unless you are training for a specific goal.

I personally have a Polar FT7 was like 60 bucks?

I started out and own the FT4. I believe it was around $55. I am looking to upgrade to a FT7 in order to know what % of fat I am burning as I believe this product offers that feature. Personally I feel that it has been worth the money for me. MFP definitely overestimates what you burn here. Pairing that with a food scale and you can have a great combination in my opinion.

I agree about the Overestimations by MFP's caloric burns. I usually shave some off the final number before I post. Try endomondo for all your fitness workouts. it will auto sync with MFP. Its great.

I love my FT7 and have found it to be accurate for me when I do steady state cardio, as my results show this. I don't think it's real accurate for strength training/weight lifting, though, because that does not get my heart rate up.

If you do get a HRM, I would suggest getting one with a chest strap.

Do you really need one? It depends on what you will be using it for. Are you wanting to know how many calories you burn during exercise? I use it strictly to track calories when doing cardio. I use an estimation when lifting as I hear it is not accurate for that.

I had a Polar FT7. I used to think it was a must, but I only used it for a short time & sold it on ebay. The burns it showed are higher than MFP, but I just used MFP to be on the more conservative side. How I found the HRM useful was when I transitioned from the treadmill to outdoor running. The HRM really helped me learn to control my pace, other than that I never used it anymore. I like my fitbit one.

edited to add this: On some people it shows that they are burning less than what MFP shows, in my case it showed a higher amount.

I have a Timex that I really like. I was working out with my Kinect and felt that is grossly underestimated my calories burned. I started using the HRM and it seemed to correlate with my exertion level pretty well.

I really want to improve my fitness level and the HRM helps to track fitness in an objective way.

My Polar FT7 is one of the best purchases I've ever made, not even just for fitness but over anything else in general. As for an arm and a leg, it depends how you're pricing your arms and legs. I'd suggest finding the lowest price using the google shopping tool (or just Amazon) then finding a coupon code for that particular site... you'll probably get the best deal out there that way.

Yep, the FT7 is the best on the market right now simply because it's the most accurate. It works with a chest strap so you get a very accurate BPM and calories burned estimate. I can't work out without it now. A lot of people say that MFP actually OVER-estimates the calories you burn when working out, but I found that I'm pretty vigorous when I work out and MFP was actually UNDER-estimating the amount of calories I was burning (and not by a little - usually by like 100 cals!). It has helped me be able to eat more food because I know exactly how many cals I can eat back now, and as a result not be so hungry all the time.

No. But it is a lot of fun. And you'll get really accurate counts for your exercise calories. I eat all of mine back so I don't want to over estimate.
PS - I got a FitBit for Christmas and it is even MORE fun than my old Polar Fit HRM!

I was going to buy a heart rate monitor 2 years ago...and never did, b/c I didn't want to spend the money. I went from a size 10 to a 4, so technically, you don't NEED one. I just use the calories burned feature on the cardio equipment and the MFP estimates of cals burned. I usually input the lower estimate into MFP so I don't overestimate cals burned. I've also read repeatedly on MFP that they are very inaccurate for estimating cals burned while strength-training.

If I could do everything over again I would not have bought a heart rate monitor. For me, it was a waste of time and money that made me afraid to exercise. For me, it brought anxiety and I didn't push myself enough because I would see my elevated heart rate and then I worried that I was over exerting. I have become comfortable listening to and watching my body, knowing that my body is the best reflection of my workout.

I quoted you because I wanted to comment on just about everything you said (not knocking your reasons). Me on the other hand - I'm total opposite. I am lost without my HR monitor. I find that it makes me want to work harder to reach the different levels (fat burn, cardio etc.). I keep a pocket calendar in my gym bag and after my workouts I write down what I did, how much time (and if TM the distance) and the calories I burned as well as other info (sore muscles, etc.) so I can look back over the dates and compare workouts, see where I can improve etc. As far as "over exerting myself" I know if I'm short of breath, dizzy etc. that I need to back off. I do look at my monitor at those times to see what my HR is.

I guess bottom line it's all personal preference if you use one or not. I'm a real "info kind of person" - some people aren't. My DH works out but can't be bothered with using a HR monitor.

OP - I have a Polar F4 and love it. I agree if you go with a HR monitor the ones with the chest strap are more accurate than the wrist ones (I had a MIO Fitness before my Polar) and it was way over on the calories I burned for exercise. Even worse than the HR monitors on the machines!. Good luck, let us know which one you decide to get.

No. But it is a lot of fun. And you'll get really accurate counts for your exercise calories. I eat all of mine back so I don't want to over estimate.
PS - I got a FitBit for Christmas and it is even MORE fun than my old Polar Fit HRM!

I toyed with the idea of the FitBit but at this point I can't justify it since my Polar F4 isn't that old. Maybe if I find a screaming deal.....:yawn:

You do not NEED one to be successful.

I agree! If people are successful eating at McDonald's, people can be successful without a HRM. If you feel that MFP overestimate the calories burned, just don't eat them all or trust more the numbers in the cardio equipment. That is what I did, and still do.

On the other hand, if you like gadgets and feel more comfy wearing a HRM, just get one but be aware that they don't seem to be very accurate for strength training.