HRM's, how much do they help?

I know tracking exercise calories is a big deal around here, but I don't think it's necessary. The reason is that most people's activity is pretty consistent on a weekly basis. All that's really needed is to stay consistent with your calories, and adjust them if you're not losing weight.

Tools like that may be useful for those whose activity varies greatly, but for most, it's unnecessary nit-picking.

Dude, no offense. I'm not trying to start an argument with you, but I have serious issues with this post.

First, you've stated your opinion: "I don't think it's necessary to track exercise calories". OK, that's cool.

Then you added your basis: "most people's activity is pretty consistent on a weekly basis." Wow, amazing insight into the human population! Impressive. I noted that you didn't say "dieters", or "Americans", or "MFP users", etc. You said "people".

Then you added a qualification: "Tools like that may be useful for those whose activity varies greatly." The minority of the human population, I'm inferring from your post.

You have an amazing premise. For a 31 year old guy with a photo of a person with good abs, and not much else to lend credibility to your statement, its hard to take what you say with more than "a grain of salt".

Having said that, most Registered Dietitians would probably agree with you. That is generally their approach. Please understand that keeping track of exercise calories provides ancillary benefits. Just like keeping a food diary, tracking calories expended give the MFP user a tangible measurement of what he/she is doing daily/weekly/yearly. How much.

I will agree with your statement, "All that's really needed is to stay consistent with your calories, and adjust them if you're not losing weight." IF YOUR ONLY GOAL FOR BEING HERE IS TO LOSE WEIGHT. But this website/app/tool is not called "MyDietPal".

Now your basis. Dude, come on. Weak. Sorry. Most people? Really?!?

Now to the OP and others who may be interested. An HRM is a great tool for fitness. You don't HAVE to have one to lose weight. It is the best tool to assess your body's response to the moment-to-moment changes in your physical activity. People often wonder how much and in which intensities they should train to gain maximum benefit. The simplest means of determining this is to listen to your own body. Heart rate based training gives clear guidance on how to train to reach your individual goals, based on your personal heart rate and heart rate variability.

Here is a little bit of information about the benefits of using an HRM:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/solpwr/view/heart-rate-the-window-inside-the-body-163402

Finally, if your goal in being here is too just look fantastic, AND YOU ARE GENETICALLY PREDISPOSED TO LOW BODY FAT, you could probably forego using an HRM completely. If your goal is to look really good, you could probably go without one.

If you would like to really quantify your exercise efforts in the best way possible, an HRM is the best tool to do that. If you want insight into whether you are over-training or under-training, HRM is the best for that. If you are active in a sport such as running or cycling or cross country skiing or hiking or climbing or football or soccer or *insert active sport here*, an HRM is a great tool to find out if you can improve in your sport.

If you have (or at some point in the future will) become more focused on your fitness or your athletic performance as opposed to your obesity or external appearance, I would recommend using an HRM, without a doubt.