We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Gaining weight- Should I buy an HRM and or a food scale?

sherreystl1
sherreystl1 Posts: 12 Member
edited February 16 in Health and Weight Loss
HELP!!!! I started out losing 13 1/2 lbs in about 3 months. The first 7 1/2 was in one month! I just joined a gym about a month ago and I gained 2 lbs. I did lose .75% body fat and .75" in my waist. I have 15-20lbs to go. Should I get an HRM and or a food scale? I need to jump start my weight loss!

Thanks in advance!

Replies

  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I have a scale and no HRM..I wont ever own a HRM...

    But to be frank scales aren't that expensive...you could probably do both.

    As well that 2lbs is probably water weight from the new exerise.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Both.

    The scale is pretty inexpensive, but if you can afford a HRM, I think they're a good investment.
  • ImpishVanity
    ImpishVanity Posts: 224 Member
    The answer to your question is yes.

    Scales are cheap. I just bought a fairly nice one that does grams and ounces from amazon for like $20 or less. HRM isn't really necessary but it's not a bad investment if you have the cash for one.
  • Songbirdcw
    Songbirdcw Posts: 320 Member
    Both. A HRM is good for exercise, and I purchased mines over a year ago. You can get a nice food scale from Target or Walmart for $20 and under. Also, I recently bought the FitBit which tracks your steps and calories you burn throughout the day. It has really helped me manage my weight. It's especially good when snyced with MFP.
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    Yes to both! I weigh most everything just to be sure I log correctly. The hrm is great for tracking how many calories I burn during exercise and seeing where my heart rate is at.
  • gonefishin1282
    gonefishin1282 Posts: 44 Member
    The main benefit I've found with a HRM is to track calories burned. I used mine to also track my resting heart rate. It was actually motivation to start off at 92 and over the weeks watch it fall into the low seventies! A scale is a must....it is quick to use and makes a big difference on how much food you truly "think" you are eating!
  • tropicaltiger
    tropicaltiger Posts: 254
    i do way everything-i am truly into portion control-i use a fit bit-i don't know to much about hrm-i go to the gym 5 days aweek-i doo know besides working out it is what i eat-if you like you can add me
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    A food scale, no doubt. I use mine every day, multiple times a day.

    I like my heart rate monitor but it's far from essential for weight loss. These days I primarily use it for endurance training anyway; that's really its purpose. Remember that its calorie calculation is nothing more than a calculation based on an algorithm derived from averages, and if you deviate from the average, the calorie calculation still won't be correct. It's no magic anything, it's just a kinda fun, somewhat useful toy. I also have the fitbit and feel the same way about it. Though I love and wear it every damn day, it's a toy - a motivating, fun toy...far from essential.
  • daisyellow
    daisyellow Posts: 54 Member
    Cardio machines and MFP overestimates calories burned during a workout, so if you are eating back your calories, using a HRM is going to give you much more accurate information.

    When I first started logging calories burned/consumed, I didn't have a HRM and was actually overeating by accident. Whoopsie...
  • LCFulmer
    LCFulmer Posts: 183 Member
    BOTH... I use both everyday. The scale at home to get an accurate track of what/how much I'm eating; a HRM to get an accurate talley of calories burned. Neither one of them are very expensive.
  • Ely82010
    Ely82010 Posts: 1,998 Member
    In my opinion a food scale is more important than an HRM. I have a food scale that I used all the time, even now that I am on maintenance. I don't have a HRM because they are not very effective unless you do a lot of cardio, which I don't.

    I always used the readings given by the cardio machines at the gym and MFP for walking and strength training. I don't always eat all my exercises calories, so I am covered.
  • moseler
    moseler Posts: 224 Member
    Yes.
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    A food scale. Because restricting calories is more important for weight loss than exercise. A heart rate monitor, however, is a great tool for tracking general cardio fitness and while doing intervals,although many machines have built in HRMs.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories