heart rate and calorie burn

jellio98
jellio98 Posts: 24 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Yesterday was a very stressful, emotional day at work. Normally, while sitting doing computer work my heart rate is around 60 bpm. Yesterday, is was hovering around 90. My Fitbit said I had a great calorie burn yesterday - but I don't believe it since I was basically sitting all day.

I've heard heart rate is only a rough approximation for calorie burn. Is this an example of when it doesn't work so well, or do you burn more calories when you are stessed and have elevated heart rate?

Replies

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Heart rate is used as a proxy for exertion in steady state cardio. It is useless for guessing caloric burn at rest.
  • markrgeary1
    markrgeary1 Posts: 853 Member
    I don't think so. I had tachycardia(resting heart rate over 100) last year. Didn't do anything for me except maybe make me feel crappy. Make sure you are hydrated.
  • jellio98
    jellio98 Posts: 24 Member
    I tend to be an emotional eater - and I was sooooo tempted to stuff my face with chocolate from the extra calories I "earned", but I resisted. It'd be nice though, the more stressed you are, the more you can eat your cares away.

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