Calories burn via HRM question....please help :)

I'd check your HRM's factory settings for your target heart rate against the calculations found here: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Your-Target-Heart-Rate

Fat Burning Zone: 55% - 65% of maximum heart rate
Cardio Zone: 65% - 75% of maximum
Endurance Zone: 75% - 85% of maximum

Also your HRM might not be taking in as many variables to account as MFP, or the other calorie tracking sites. it is after all just a small piece of electronic equipment, as opposed to a larger computer server, and database.

Did you do the fitness test before starting? It sets your VO2 level and allows a more accurate reading.

On the elliptical, I burn about 200 cals via the HRM, 300+ if I went by this site or the elliptical machine itself. I'm fit and not terribly overweight (anymore).

I am also the new owner of a hrm and I have the same question. In my 60 minute cardio sculpt class my hrm says I burned 730 calories. Now I know I was hot, sweaty and out of breath during class, but could that really be true? My hrm is a watch with a chest strap, of which I wore both. Anyone out there have any helpful advice for us?

It depends how intense the workout was and being out of breath is a good indicator that you were pushing yourself, so depending on your weight and other factors it's very possible. The thing with heart rate monitors and caloric burn is that they aren't as accurate as people think. They're also only accurate for cardio workouts, they're useless for strength training, house-cleaning and things of that nature. I'm not too sure about circuit training but I figure the accuracy is off on that. Also heart rate monitors tend to overestimate heart-rate when lifting your arms above your head for some reason.

One suggestion I can make is to check your HRM profile settings. Make sure you entered your sex, age and weight correctly.

Good luck! :flowerforyou:

Remember that a heart rate monitor can only estimate calories burned based on what you've put in it and what your heart rate is during the workout. If it hasn't been properly programmed to begin with, then it isn't going to be accurate. Also, if you are on high blood pressure medications, it may register a lower calorie burn because your heart rate is artificially lowered by the medications. If you are on asthma medication, cold medication, sinus medication, decongestants, caffeine, etc. you will have an artificially raised heart rate, which will cause a reading of a higher then accurate calorie burn. Remember, it is just an estimate just like this site's database and any number of other estimates of calories burned in other websites, with different heart rate monitors, and even the metabolic cart used in most labs. The only true way of measuring calorie burn is in a human calorimeter which is almost impossible to get to use. But the only true way of measuring the calories in food is just as hard to get access too and is known as a bomb calorimeter. It's all estimates, so pick which estimate you want to use and stick to it. Otherwise don't worry about it.

As for the fat burning zone, this comes from the proven scientific fact that lower intensity exercise burns a higher percentage of calories from fat then higher intensity exercise, which burns a higher percentage of carbs in the form of glycogen/glucose. Given that the average calorie burn for moving 1 mile by way of your feet (walking, jogging, running) is 100 calories, it doesn't matter if you walk or jog or run a mile, you will burn somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 calories. Now if you can walk that mile but it takes you 20 minutes, you burn 60-70% of that 100 calories from fat, so 60-70 calories from fat. If you can run a mile in 10 minutes, but can't keep going after that 10 minutes, you still burn 100 calories, but only 25-35% of that is from fat, so only 25-35 calories from fat. Now, if all you have the energy to do is that one mile, then the slower paced walk is better for fat burning. But if you can go the 20 minutes and still run, making it 2 miles in that 20 minutes, you've burned 200 calories with 25-35% from fat. 25-35% of 200 calories is 50 to 70 calories from fat. Either way, you've burned about the same amount of calories from fat, but have doubled your total calorie burn by running. So, yes, higher intensity is better if you can keep it up, but if you can't keep it up yet, don't stress about it.

Also, keep in mind that those heart rates are more important for other things, not just determining intensity level. For someone with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular issue, they should maintain a lower heart rate during exercise then the average person. 60-70% of max heart rate (using the old 220-age formula to determine max heart rate unless you can be tested in a lab) is generally what cardiologists I've worked with recommend. So, if you have blood pressure issues, keep that in mind when checking your heart rate during exercise.