HRM question!!

leahdanbury
leahdanbury Posts: 132 Member
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
So I bought a HRM last night and I used it today while I took a walk. I was pushing a stroller and walking 3.0-3.5 for an hour. I took my pulse about every 5 minutes. When I put in my work out into MFP it says I burned 281 calories but my HRM says I burned 866....I don't know which one to use! Some please help me!

Replies

  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Normally I'd say trust your HRM, but that seems crazy high.

    Does your HRM have a chest strap? If not, then I highly suggest getting one with a chest strap.. otherwise you won't get an accurate calorie count.
  • LJCDuke11
    LJCDuke11 Posts: 103 Member
    866 seems REALLY high for a mild hour long walk... have you calibrated your HRM... usually you want to go by that but it seems way to high... ?? what kind of HRM did yu get?
  • LJCDuke11
    LJCDuke11 Posts: 103 Member
    Normally I'd say trust your HRM, but that seems crazy high.

    Does your HRM have a chest strap? If not, then I highly suggest getting one with a chest strap.. otherwise you won't get an accurate calorie count.

    TRUE!
  • CountryDevil
    CountryDevil Posts: 819 Member
    MFP is notorious for being over inflated. What kind of HRM did you buy? Did you enter you information into it like you height, weight and age?
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    Unless you're seriously out of shape, I'd say MFP is a lot closer than your HRM. I will add my agreement to the opinion that you need a HRM with a chest strap. You mentioned "taking your pulse every 5 minutes" which indicates to me that you probably have the wrist watch kind, which are unfortunately not very accurate.
  • leahdanbury
    leahdanbury Posts: 132 Member
    Okay so I just bought a new balance one. And no it doesn't have a chest strap. Also there wasn't an option to put in my info....should I not have gotten this one?
  • SueInAz
    SueInAz Posts: 6,592 Member
    If it's not personalized to your height and weight, you're better off using MFP which at least knows that about you. If it were me, I'd take that one back and get one with a chest strap. If you can't afford one right now, save up until you can and use MFPs numbers in the meantime.

    I had an old HRM that needed a new battery. Until I got around to taking it to a watch repair shop to have the battery replaced, I used MFP. Turns out I actually burn more than MFP says but in the meantime, it wasn't hurting me to put in few calories than I'd actually burned.
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    Okay so I just bought a new balance one. And no it doesn't have a chest strap. Also there wasn't an option to put in my info....should I not have gotten this one?

    In one word.. Yes you should have not gotten this one and I would suggest returning/exchanging it ASAP.

    When buying an HRM you need a chest strap and one that lets you enter age, weight, height, gender.

    For the basics, the Polar FT4 or FT7 should be fine. Both can be found online through various websites for under a hundred dollars.. stores also have them, but you'll pay a bit more.
  • leahdanbury
    leahdanbury Posts: 132 Member
    thanks everyone! I'll return it tomorrow and unfortunately i'll have to wait until next pay day to get a good one! :sad:
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