How do HRMs help the morbidly obese?

KaraBoo87
KaraBoo87 Posts: 35 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Let me start off by saying I am 27yo, 5'6", and I weigh 297 (down from 333)! I just got a Polar FT4 HRM. I found out that my max HR is 186, which I know is pretty high for my age. I figured it's so high since I weigh so much. Anyway, I walk/jog about 1.5 miles per day, 5-6 days per week. Even after just standing up and walking to the sidewalk, my HR was at 135. The most it ever got was 160 (during my jogging spurts).

My question is that how is the HR monitor really going to help
me? Please do not tell me that I am doing way too much exercise for someone in my shape, because I never feel like I'm going to kill over, I never vomit afterwards, and honestly, I've kind of started enjoying it!

If I can just walk and my HR is 135, am I even helping myself by running and increasing my HR since it's still in the target zone? Is a HRM more helpful to people when they become more fit? I clearly wasn't very good at math or science in high school, so any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Replies

  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Congrats on getting into the 200s!

    If you're doing steady state cardio, they can be helpful in estimating your calorie burn during your workouts. If you are doing interval training, as you mentioned with jogging spurts, the estimate becomes less accurate because of the how the formula is set up to measure calorie burn.

    I also have the FT4, I think there is some information in there about "minutes in zone" which I supposed is how long your heart rate stayed in the percentage that is considered the "fat burning zone," but I've never really worried about that.

    There is nothing wrong with your jogging spurts, provided you are not injuring yourself in some way by falling over a park bench or getting tangled up in dog leashes - in which case you might want to at least look where you are going. Interval training is actually really good for you, it not only can increase your calorie burn, but it has wonderful cardiovascular benefits. HIIT (high-intensity interval training) is used by a lot of people around here, and for some people it's the only cardio they do because you can do a session in 15 min and will see improvement in your aerobic and anaerobic systems. If you like jogging intervals, then absolutely go for it.

    FWIW, I'm 36, 5'7", 145 lbs, and my heart rate can easily get up around 180 when I'm doing a HIIT workout. If you're using the 220-age formula to calculate the max heart rate, yours would be around 193, so you're actually right around where you should be for a max HR. I only use my HRM to measure calorie burn and to keep track of my HR when doing HIIT to see where I get up to and where I am during the rest portion, so I think the HRM has the same amount of value to everyone regardless of fitness level.
  • cantfail
    cantfail Posts: 169 Member
    The biggest benefit of the HRM is the calorie estimate it should give you (I think the F4 has that). As long as you have set up your HRM correctly, it will give you a more accurate estimate of the calories you are using when you walk or run. Then you can enter that into MFP.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    My impression is that most people use HRMs because they feel they get a better estimate of the calories they're burning than they would from the MFP exercise database, the readout from gym cardio equipment, etc., rather than to assure that they're in a particular HR zone. For that purpose, I would think HRMs would help the morbidly obese in the same way that they help people in other BMI categories: to determine how many calories you're using, so you can decide how many calories to consume, for whatever your goal is.

    As for your belief that you're not working to hard if you're not vomiting or collapsing, you might want to set the bar a little lower than that. I think heavy breathing is OK, but if you're gasping for breath, you probably should dial it back a little. But I don't want to discourage you.

    Anyway, congratulations on all your progress so far--it's fantastic!
  • KaraBoo87
    KaraBoo87 Posts: 35 Member
    Thanks, everyone! I never gasp for breath, but my breathing while jogging is harder than it is when walking, as it is with everyone. I appreciate all of your all's input!
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I think overall, most people use them for interval workouts where you're aiming to hit specific HR zones during different parts of the workout. A lot of people also use them to make sure they're working hard enough but not too hard. Sometimes 'perceived exertion' isn't the best and it's good to know that you're making the best use of your time.

    Congrats and have fun with it!

    If you want to try some HIIT workouts, check out cardiocoach.com MP3 workouts. They expect that you're using a HRM.
  • 34blast
    34blast Posts: 166 Member
    If you make written or mental notes of your heart rate at different times, you will be able to track some progress.

    Let's say you jog for spurts and see it go up. As you get more fit as you walk you will see it drop faster and further. Also, you will notice as you get fitter, you will be able to run at the same pace longer before getting to that heart rate. It is an interesting tool. You can also use it to test your heart rate while you are resting. It is a tool, but not required.

    If you keep with it, you will feel better and see better results and the heart monitor will show it as well.

    For grins, I've worn mine while mowing the yard and yard work. Playing soccer just to see how much I work. Mine will get sky high during several sprints during soccer, but come right back down pretty fast during walking of slow jogging. Now that I lost weight and am a bit fitter, mowing the yard does almost nothing compared to before. No matter how fit I get, it will go up as high as 190 while sprinting, but it drops back down much faster now that I'm lighter and a bit more fit.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    I think overall, most people use them for interval workouts where you're aiming to hit specific HR zones during different parts of the workout. A lot of people also use them to make sure they're working hard enough but not too hard. Sometimes 'perceived exertion' isn't the best and it's good to know that you're making the best use of your time.

    This! I use it to measure how long I'm spending in each zone and to track how high my hr gets during HIIT and how fast my recovery is and how low my hr gets down. I use the data to up the intensity of the HIIT training to keep my hr up. It's a great tool!

    Awesome idea!!!

    Your hr did sound high to me--the charts are typically based on age. Here's a chart from the American Heart Association.
    http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/PhysicalActivity/Target-Heart-Rates_UCM_434341_Article.jsp
  • faceoff4
    faceoff4 Posts: 1,599 Member
    They also help you stay accountable and focused. You will also learn a lot about your body from a HRM I have found. But the biggest thing is look at it like logging your meals each day. Its a away to stay focused, disciplined and accountable and that will help you stay on track with your goals. Dont worry about too many of the bells and whistles of the HRM, just for now use it for seeing how many calories you are burning and try to get yourself in a regular routine of deficits or hitting your calorie net goals and you will start to see the benefits of the HRM that way, I am a really big fan of them and have used them my whole life, so I tend to have a very positive attitude towards them and I think they are essential. Good luck and you will do great in your journey!

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