Just bought a timex heart rate monitor and have a question

slieber
slieber Posts: 765 Member
edited September 19 in Fitness and Exercise
...about maximum heart rate. They recommend that you do two tests with it to find out your max heart rate - one's a step test and the other's a chair test.

Now, I have a question: Do I REALLY need to do that or can I just go with what's normal for my age - the age charts they have in the gyms, for example?

I'm quite fit, right now, and I'm not sure the max heart rate tests the booklet suggests will actually raise my heart rate to the level the various charts say would be my maximum rate.

Just sitting here, at this time of night, after a meal and putting on the strap, etc. and typing, my heart rate is between 55-65 bpm.

A follow-up question on the above....is that a sign of a healthy heart that my beats are so low? I have done some chores but have sat here for about a half hour or so before taking out the monitor and putting it on.

Finally, how do I use the heart rate to calculate calories burned?

Thanks for any info!

Replies

  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    ...about maximum heart rate. They recommend that you do two tests with it to find out your max heart rate - one's a step test and the other's a chair test.

    Now, I have a question: Do I REALLY need to do that or can I just go with what's normal for my age - the age charts they have in the gyms, for example?

    I'm quite fit, right now, and I'm not sure the max heart rate tests the booklet suggests will actually raise my heart rate to the level the various charts say would be my maximum rate.

    Just sitting here, at this time of night, after a meal and putting on the strap, etc. and typing, my heart rate is between 55-65 bpm.

    A follow-up question on the above....is that a sign of a healthy heart that my beats are so low? I have done some chores but have sat here for about a half hour or so before taking out the monitor and putting it on.

    Finally, how do I use the heart rate to calculate calories burned?

    Thanks for any info!
  • hapemopirate
    hapemopirate Posts: 68 Member
    I don't know much about the actual HRM, but I do know that a resting HR of 55-65 is indicative of an athlete. Very healthy and normal.
  • AmyNVegas
    AmyNVegas Posts: 2,215 Member
    Check the instructions it should have a calories burned section on the HRM it should tell you how to set it to count them when you are going to exercise.


    Amy:bigsmile:
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  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    This one doesn't have that function. Is there another way to do it?
  • pamb44
    pamb44 Posts: 23 Member
    Which model did you buy? I have the iron man triathlon one (teal colored). I really love it because it keeps me working hard at the gym. But the actual instructions that come with it totally rot. I still haven't figured out how to do my calories burned:grumble: . I set my heart rate to 156 to be working the hardest per my personal trainer. Plus I did the math 226-44(my age)=maximum heart rate. So if you want to be working at 80% that would be like 155 depending on YOUR age of course. Check with a personal trainer at your gym. Good luck:happy:
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    Mine is the Timex Personal Heart Rate Monitor model 5G971 (or so it said when I ordered it!). It doesn't appear to do anything more than monitor heart rate. The instructions don't show a thing about programming it for calories or setting the heart rate or anything. It's just a simple monitor. I bought it using Consumer Reports ratings, which gave it the highest among the products it listed (including the Polar FS1).

    Really, though, isn't there a way to correlate heart rate with calories? I read that the Polar F6 does that, but is it accurate? Has anyone actually lost weight by following what their HRM said rather than what the gym machines say?
  • fiddlechic
    fiddlechic Posts: 196
    i use the polar f6 and it varies. for instance on my elliptical my hrm says i burn around 650cals for 45 minutes but the machine says around 480. today i went biking for a total of 37 minutes and my hrm and the exercise database on here were almost exact=345 cals.

    I looked up your hrm and it says it does count calories...

    "Timex 5G971 Gray/Black/Metallic with Orange Heart Rate Monitor Wrist Watch
    Price Range:
    $30.00 to $55.00
    Loaded with features at a great price, the Timex 5G971 offers great bang for the buck! EKG accurate heart rate during exercise Large,... Read More
    Loaded with features at a great price, the Timex 5G971 offers great bang for the buck! EKG accurate heart rate during exercise Large, easy-to-read display Target zone alarm Recovery heart rate timer Calorie counter tracks calories burned during exercise Displays heart rate in beats per minute or percent of maximum Automatic activity timer keeps track of exercise time Recalls time in target zone, activity time, and average and peak heart rate Comfortable, lightweight transmitter with owner-replaceable battery Elastic strap fits chest sizes from 25 inches to 53 inches Water-resistant 30m (sensor will not provide accurate heart rates when under water) INDIGLO® night-light backlight Watch with 12/24 hour time and month/date display 2 year average battery life One year warranty"
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    AARRGGGHHH!! I think I meant to by the 5G971 but bought the 5G941 instead. Just checked the box. Grrr....
  • fiddlechic
    fiddlechic Posts: 196
    oops, yeah the one you have doesnt track calories. :( exchange it!!
  • slieber
    slieber Posts: 765 Member
    I shall do that forthwith! :-)
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