We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Sceptical about Polar watch calories burned

TinyJimbo
TinyJimbo Posts: 37 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
1c16wkchbh4x.png

Polar says I burned about 500 calories by walking for 50 minutes. That seems a lot to me.
How precise are those watch reports? (Polar M200).

Replies

  • slowbubblecar
    slowbubblecar Posts: 91 Member
    edited February 2017
    Did you change the settings to put in your info? Seems a little high to me though.

    My watch always seemed fairly accurate but I have a basic watch.
  • BrianKMcFalls
    BrianKMcFalls Posts: 190 Member
    Seems about double what you actually burned to me.
  • TinyJimbo
    TinyJimbo Posts: 37 Member
    Did you change the settings to put in your info? Seems a little high to me though.

    My watch always seemed fairly accurate but I have a basic watch.

    Yes I did, my age / weight and height are correct. I do walk as fast as I can and I'm not in shape.
  • ragsibobs
    ragsibobs Posts: 22 Member
    Polar might add on your basal metabolic rate to the calories burnt. But I'm not entirely sure... I used to have a polar watch and I seem to remember that when I uploaded my training from polar to Strava (running/cycling/swimming app), Strava would tell me I had burnt less calories than polar did even though strava only had it's information from the Polar app.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Unless you weigh almost 400 pounds, the calorie number is elevated. If you have a higher than average max hr, an HRM will think you are working harder than you are and give you an elevated calorie burn.
This discussion has been closed.