HRM question

ddb2222
ddb2222 Posts: 9 Member
edited October 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I just purchased a Mio brand HRM and used for the first time. I don't exercise much. Usually just a 35 min brisk walk sometimes with 1-2 min of jogging thrown in the middle. MFP usually estimates 135 - 145 calories burned. Today, I tried interval training (30 sec run, 4 min walk) for 35 min. My HRM said I burned 260 calories. Does this sound right? Just sounds high since I'm used to what MFP estimates, I would like to think a HRM would be more accurate, but I've heard that MFP is pretty generous with their estimates.

FYI - I have yet to set my resting heart rate. Can that affect this equation?

Replies

  • daves160
    daves160 Posts: 600
    In order for it to be accurate, you need to set your age, sex, weight, and max heart rate. It may also want to know your fitness level, which should be outlined in the instruction manual.
    A basic formula to get your max heart rate is 220 minus your age. To set your resting heart rate, sit somewhere quiet for 20 minutes, or check it when you first wake up in the morning.

    All this is important far accuracy, because everyone is different.
  • ZombieKillaPrincess
    ZombieKillaPrincess Posts: 404 Member
    that sounds right! a HRM is definitely more accurate than MFP estimates. i noticed when i started using my HRM that sometimes the MFP calculations were too high and sometimes too low. It really depends on you, how hard you worked out, your weight, etc. not familiar with Mio brand though. I have a Polar. but 260 doesn't sound too high, especially since you ran as well as walked.
  • chicago_dad
    chicago_dad Posts: 357
    HRMs based on heart rate aren't magic. They rely on a lot of assumptions about your basal metabolic rate and other stuff, and then use some formula to spit out a number. The truth is that number represents the middle of a RANGE. So, when your watch has the # 500 on it for calories burned, that's an estimation. It could be as low as 300 and it could be as high as 700 (for example). You get some additional accuracy when you do a New Leaf profile and combine that with a GPS based HRM when you run or bike outside. That's the best you can do. There are tons of calorie burn calculators on line (google "calorie burn calculator").

    check out:

    http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5700177_heart-monitors-calculate-calories-burned.html
  • ChristineMarie89
    ChristineMarie89 Posts: 1,079 Member
    mine had to have the age, sex, weight, height, lower and upper HR in order to work right...but some of mfps numbers are high and a few are low...
  • ddb2222
    ddb2222 Posts: 9 Member
    Okay- Thanks!!!

    I did enter weight, gender, and age. The default resting HR is set to 70 and I figured I'd just wait to check mine in the morning.
  • MrsNoir
    MrsNoir Posts: 236 Member
    I do an interval training work out at home, and yes, I do sweat loads more and I feel that I should be burning more calories than when I log it as circuit training. And the other way around, I need to get one of those Heart Rate monitors for Christmas too :D
  • MrsNoir
    MrsNoir Posts: 236 Member
    I do an interval training work out at home, and yes, I do sweat loads more and I feel that I should be burning more calories than when I log it as circuit training. And the other way around, I need to get one of those Heart Rate monitors for Christmas too :D
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