Looking for advice on heart rate monitors
azkunk
Posts: 956 Member
I have read that chest strap HR monitors are the best way to calculate calories burned but I have not had any luck with them. I have used the Polar H7 Bluetooth and replaced it 3 times in less than 6 months before giving up. Within about a month it just stops syncing to my phone. Now, I am looking into getting a new HR monitor vs waiting for the Apple Watch vs. Fitbit Charge HR. I'm asking for advice on the HR monitors because I'm not convinced that the wrist type trackers will be accurate. Currently, I walk 3-4 times a week and plan on getting back to the gym ASAP (cardio classes, spin, yoga, plus hiking) and I use Endomondo as my tracking app for fitness. Thanks 
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I am looking into getting a new HR monitor vs waiting for the Apple Watch vs. Fitbit Charge HR. I'm asking for advice on the HR monitors because I'm not convinced that the wrist type trackers will be accurate.
FYI, I have a Fitbit Flex and Jawbone UP24. They aren't heart-rate monitors, but they do calculate your TDEE. The only proof of accuracy is results, and I lost the weight & have kept it off for six months.
That said, I'm kinda tempted to upgrade to the Fitbit Charge HR and Jawbone UP3 when they come out. I love gadgets! (Obviously—I have two activity trackers. And a Fitbit Aria Wifi scale.)0 -
Have you tried any of the Polar FT series HRM? I had a FT4 and now a FT60 and they are absolutely wonderful.0
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I agree that the proof is in the results but I am very motivated by the gadgets. I really can't decide. I never had the wrist type but I am concerned that driving would mess it up.
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NicoleisQuantized wrote: »Have you tried any of the Polar FT series HRM? I had a FT4 and now a FT60 and they are absolutely wonderful.
Does it sync to your phone?0 -
I have a polar f4. It has a chest strap and a watch that shows the output while you are exercising. It's not an activity tracker like a fitbit-it's specifically for working out. This polar does not sync to anything, I manually add my exercise calories from it into MFP. I also have a fitbit one for the rest of my day. A HRM and an activity tracker measure different things so determine exactly what you are looking for.0
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I am looking for a HRM. I don't really think the fitness trackers are as accurate. But I think I want a bluetooth on so that I can sync it with Endomondo during my workouts for an accurate calorie count. When the Polar H7 worked, it was perfect.0
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Well, I've had several different polar models and always had good luck without the Bluetooth syncing feature. I also don't have my phone anywhere near me when I work out! Polar has pretty decent customer service have you contacted them about your H7?0
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It's been about a year since I gave up on it. I recently read that you need to be far away from the device when pairing. I am going to look for my H7, change the battery and give it another try.0
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I would look into the Polar M400. Got great reviews and gives you a lot for your money. Check out Dcrainmaker's review on the Internet.
Stef.0 -
I am looking for a HRM. I don't really think the fitness trackers are as accurate. But I think I want a bluetooth on so that I can sync it with Endomondo during my workouts for an accurate calorie count. When the Polar H7 worked, it was perfect.
I bought the Wahoo Tickr X. I received it on 12/18; so not a lot of time to provide feedback - but I love it. It will record up to 16 hours of info that can be downloaded where ever later.
Like a weirdo; I've been wearing it all day just to see how many calories I rack up. Eventually; I too will be getting the Apple Watch.
I *think* the data can be sent to other apps and portions can be broken out. I havent figured out where yet. I posted a question, got 3 places to try. 1 was a paid site; not interested. #2 was Strava. I just tried it today. Didnt work. I havent totally sorted out the problem. I think because I am working on the treadmill, not actually moving... is the cause.
I am walking on the treadmill @ 11.5% grade. I use the RunKeeper app which has an option to monitor progress even when no motion is taking place. She's telling me I start @ 80-90% heart rate; but spend the duration at 90-100% heart rate. She hasnt told me to initiate the defibrillator app; so I think all is going well. Making progress actually.
I bought the Polar H7; due to arrive today. I'm interested to compare results.
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All day wear will not produce an accurate caloric reading.0
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brianpperkins wrote: »All day wear will not produce an accurate caloric reading.
Yes... I realize that the closest accurate data is 'calories burned when actually exercising'. My tracking has been informational only.
I have also wondered when a heart rate monitor IS calculating exercise calories, that it subtracts the calories needed for everyday function.
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CrabbyGuy666 wrote: »brianpperkins wrote: »All day wear will not produce an accurate caloric reading.
Yes... I realize that the closest accurate data is 'calories burned when actually exercising'. My tracking has been informational only.
I have also wondered when a heart rate monitor IS calculating exercise calories, that it subtracts the calories needed for everyday function.
That depends on the model. Most report gross, not net, calories.
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CrabbyGuy666 wrote: »I bought the Polar H7; due to arrive today. I'm interested to compare results.
Let me know what you think of the two. The Wahoo will pair with Endomondo. I tried replacing the batteries and syncing my H7 today but I could only get it to read my HR for a couple of minutes. Is your Wahoo Bluetooth?0 -
Currently, I walk 3-4 times a week
Walking doesn't elevate the heart rate into the range where any HRM calorie estimation will be remotely accurate.
HRMs are designed to work in the aerobic range with relatively smooth transition, so whilst walking is smooth it's not elevating, unless you're already grossly unfit.cardio classes, spin, yoga
For all three of those the calorie estimations will be excessive as they tend to take you into the anaerobic range with rapid transitions of heart rate.
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Is your Wahoo Bluetooth?
Sure is. I've used it every day I've had it and it's always paired. I'm working my way through various apps and heart rate is always displayed when I'm in any of them. (I'm going to try Endomondo next.)
If Polar would have had a HRM that did have memory; I would have bought it as I like the fact that Polar can work on machines too.
On the Polar; I wonder if sliding a little piece of plastic over the battery before reinstalling the cover would prevent the moisture issue. Not sure how much room is available.
I'll post back in a week, after comparing the two. Not sure that will be of any help; sounds like the Polar needs time to develop an issue. For that matter; perhaps the Wahoo too.
I find the data really motivational, and I regret spending a week making a decision in buying my HRM. It would have been nice, on Day 1, to have my HRM data.
Good luck on your decision & I'm jealous that you can walk outside year 'round!
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CrabbyGuy666 wrote: »
It is lovely to be able to workout outside year round. I used to live back east and will never go back. Summers can get a bit rough her though. I have to walk at the crack of dawn. I think I am going to go with the Wahoo. Endomondo's site notes it as "Endomondo ready gear". So, I think I will give it a shot.MeanderingMammal wrote: »
I never heard/ read that HRMs were not accurate for this type of activity. I will have to research some more. Has anyone else heard of this.0 -
HRMs only approach accurate for certain activities under certain conditions. Yoga, lifting, HIIT (or any intervals), dance ... not going to get an accurate estimate from an HRM. It's not what the devices are designed or programmed to do. The relationships between heart rate, oxygen uptake, effort, etc just either aren't there or aren't established to the point where a formula can get created and put into a device.
Read this ...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-214720 -
brianpperkins wrote: »HRMs only approach accurate for certain activities under certain conditions. Yoga, lifting, HIIT (or any intervals), dance ... not going to get an accurate estimate from an HRM. It's not what the devices are designed or programmed to do. The relationships between heart rate, oxygen uptake, effort, etc just either aren't there or aren't established to the point where a formula can get created and put into a device.
Maybe I'll hold off on the HRM and get a tracker. It's purely for motivation. I typically do not eat back the calories that I expend. What about hiking, is it accurate for hiking (2-4 hours with elevation)?0 -
Maybe I'll hold off on the HRM and get a tracker. It's purely for motivation. I typically do not eat back the calories that I expend.
Activity trackers (like Fitbit) show your TDEE—way more accurately than any online calculator. When you connect your accounts, MFP compares your tracker burn to your MFP activity level and adjusts your calorie goal accordingly.
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You can have both - I just got the Garmin Vivofit. It's a fitness tracker and HRM (as long as you buy the bundle with the chest strap). So far I love it. I have had a fitbit and the jawbone UP before but would get frustrated having to charge it every few days. The Garmin battery lasts a year! The only disadvantage that I can figure out so far is that it is bigger than the fitbit and jawbone. But it also tells time so if you're not looking for fashion you can wear it as a watch too. Check it out.0
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I got the polar loop, an activity tracker and it works with polar HRM . Just got for Christmas, but so,far like it0
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Thanks, I will check them out. I am trying to hold out for the Apple Watch to see how it compares to the current fitness trackers before I pull the trigger. I was going to get a HRM in the meantime but now I am rethinking it based on the type of activity that I do and the information that I learned here.0
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editorgrrl wrote: »Maybe I'll hold off on the HRM and get a tracker. It's purely for motivation. I typically do not eat back the calories that I expend.
Activity trackers (like Fitbit) show your TDEE—way more accurately than any online calculator. When you connect your accounts, MFP compares your tracker burn to your MFP activity level and adjusts your calorie goal accordingly.
A fitbit uses a TDEE calculator that is no different or more accurate than the others. It is still an estimate. My fitbit was about 300 calories off the numbers provided by direct calorimeter testing ... a greater variance than several other calculators. It's clear that the answer you've provided here is simply a cut and paste for you.
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I said Fitbit is more accurate than online calculators—which rely on people to enter subjective information about how active they are. People overestimate their burns (and underestimate their food).
I lost the weight & have maintained for six months by eating back my Fitbit calorie adjustments. TDEE is by definition the number of calories at which your weight will stabilize. Therefore, my Fitbit burn is my TDEE.
@brianpperkins You have every right to disagree with my opinion. I've refrained from quoting you in hopes that you'll edit your post to remove the personal attack.-1 -
I never heard/ read that HRMs were not accurate for this type of activity. I will have to research some more. Has anyone else heard of this.
There is a lot of mysticism, particularly on these boards, about both activity trackers and HRMs. Both have their benefits, equally both have weaknesses and in both cases it's a question of recognising those weaknesses and working with them.
Fitness trackers depend on movement, and for a wrist worn device it can generate a lot of false positive if one is in a situation where arm movement predominates. From a personal perspective I can see them as beneficial for people who don't otherwizse exercise, and the majority of their CICO calculation has to come from calorie estimation of their base level of activity. They do seem to get uncritically cult like, and you get some people who wander around the boards putting cut and paste promotions into every related thread.
HRMs are designed for heart rate monitoring, any calorie expenditure estimation is a result of using the data already gathered to get a second order calculation. They use heart rate as a proxy for expenditure. The algorithms that they use were designed as a result of research on people doing work in the aerobic range for reasaonable durations; treadmill, cycle ergo, ergo rower. So if they're used in circumstances where those sessions aren't mimicked then they'll give a flawed estimation.
Many threads asking about HRMs have some discussion from several people who unserstand how they work trying to caution people who see them as some form of panacea.
Neither device is some kind of magic bullet.
If you're after something for motivation then I'd suggest a Vivofit, as that'll give you real time feedback and prompt you to move more if you've been stationary for a significant period of time.0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »Activity trackers (like Fitbit) show your TDEE—way more accurately than any online calculator. When you connect your accounts, MFP compares your tracker burn to your MFP activity level and adjusts your calorie goal accordingly
Subject to using them in a way that reflects the design of their algorithms then I'd agree that it has some potential to provide a more objective assessment of background activity levels. For some people it's going to lead to a high level of false positives.
It's always worth thinking about what the originator says about their situation rather than uncritically evangelising the One True Way (tm) with virtually identical posts in many different threads.
In this situation the eclared concern about driving may be a valid one, as most wrist trackers do report a small level of false positives related to driving. So it needs a supplementary bit of information around how much driving the originator does. They're not the right tool for delivery drivers, but if one is talking about a 20-30 minute commute then it's not an issue.
Personally I've lost 40lbs without one, and I don't even weight and measure food. More improtantly I can run a sub 2 hour half marathon distance and cycle 50 miles in 2:30.
All these toys are just tools that have the potential to be useful. They're not magic bullets.0 -
editorgrrl wrote: »I said Fitbit is more accurate than online calculators—which rely on people to enter subjective information about how active they are. People overestimate their burns (and underestimate their food).
I lost the weight & have maintained for six months by eating back my Fitbit calorie adjustments. TDEE is by definition the number of calories at which your weight will stabilize. Therefore, my Fitbit burn is my TDEE.
@brianpperkins You have every right to disagree with my opinion. I've refrained from quoting you in hopes that you'll edit your post to remove the personal attack.
You've repeatedly put the exact same words in multiple threads when replying about fitbits ... noting that isn't a personal attack.
As for the accuracy of a Fitbit. If all you do is step based activity, they can be fairly accurate. If you cycle .. they don't track that accurately. If you swim ... they don't track that accurately. If you lift ... they don't track that accurately either. They can't accurately *kitten* caloric burn from sex, yoga, etc. Fitbits base TDEE on the same inputs as MFP, Scooby, IIFM ... age, gender, height, weight, activity level ... which is plugged into a formula and spit out as a daily caloric total. They are far from a cookie cutter, "way more accurate" in all situations device.0 -
MeanderingMammal wrote: »
If you're after something for motivation then I'd suggest a Vivofit, as that'll give you real time feedback and prompt you to move more if you've been stationary for a significant period of time.
Thanks for the info, that was really helpful. I will look at the Vivofit. Like I said it's purely motivational for me. I do have a desk job and my exercise is mostly walking with weekend hikes and a few gym classes thrown in. I drive less than 10 miles to work. I'm a tech junkie so I like my gadgets and haven't gotten one yet because I was waiting for them to become more advanced which they now have become.
I really appreciate all of the advice given here. Thank you all.
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Thanks, I will check them out. I am trying to hold out for the Apple Watch to see how it compares to the current fitness trackers before I pull the trigger. I was going to get a HRM in the meantime but now I am rethinking it based on the type of activity that I do and the information that I learned here.
If you are considering an Apple Watch, you could look into a pebble. I got one for swimming but there's are pedometer apps and a version of runkeeper that works with it. It syncs with iphone and android phones. https://getpebble.com/pebble there's info on it, it's $100 with usb recharable battery and swim.com has a code for 15% off so mine was about $84 with free shipping.
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