Heart Rate Monitor (HRM) Question

SLippi
SLippi Posts: 22 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been trying to lose weight and get in better shape overall. I joined a gym near me and have been going as frequently as I can (4-6x week). I'm eating better than I was and feeling better but have a few questions for the more experienced people. I recently bought a HRM the Polar FT7 prior to this I would log my exercise by logging what the elliptical/treadmill/other machine stated or what MyFitnessPal (MFP) stated I burned, whichever was lower.

Now that I have a HRM it is saying I’m burning far more calories than the equipment states which seems to be contrary to most people’s results. For example today I did the elliptical on Interval but I upped the resistance from 8 – 12 since 8 was getting too easy. I did 66 minutes (60 + cool down) and the machine stated I burned around 750 calories my HRM says 951with an average heart rate of 164 and max 181. I did less than 2 minutes in the fat burn category and the rest in fitness/cardio category. I’ve had the HRM for a few days and each time I work out the results are a lot higher than I would expect.

Since the general consensus is HRMs are more accurate I’m wondering if maybe since I’m not in very good shape I’m burning more calories than the machine expects me too and eventually I’ll burn less calories as I get in better shape or is the HRM giving me faulty results?

Replies

  • fozzie500
    fozzie500 Posts: 177 Member
    you input more data into a hrm (usually) height,for instance, so the results in the hrm will be more accurate,the gym machines are usually just based on the manufactures 'average' person (whatever the hell that is!) so if you don't conform to their average your results will be higher or lower.
  • fozzie500
    fozzie500 Posts: 177 Member
    just looking at your hr figures,you look like you were working in the 75-100% of your heart rate,which is pretty intense,intense activity like this sustained will always burn a hell of a lot of calories,try to mix your sessions up,a hard session like this should be followed by a fairly easy one.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    Thanks for the quick response. I was kinda wondering about the heart rate because my gyms ellipticals say 162 bpm is over my cardio heart rate and into the red zone, but if I do lower I can sit there all day without building a sweat so I try to keep it somewhat intense on cardio days than the next day do workouts with light cardio afterwards (not too light though). I'm glad to hear the HRM results are more accurate because on the workout days I'm hungry and MFP only says I burn 100-150 calories/hour of strength training where my HRM says 300-500 depending on the routine so that's an extra protein shake or meal I can get in if I get hungry.
  • spartangirl79
    spartangirl79 Posts: 277 Member
    HRMs are more accurate. I used to work for a cardio manufacturer and typically, their default "person" is a fit, 185lb man... so even if you put in your personal data, the math is not going to be quite right. It's hard to explain but trust your HRM.
  • Nikstergirl
    Nikstergirl Posts: 1,549 Member
    Love my FT7, so I would go with that. I find it much more accurate since it's all set up for you personally, unlike the machines.
  • fozzie500
    fozzie500 Posts: 177 Member
    the good thing about high intensity workouts is that they speed up your metabalism and so when you stop exercising you are still burning calories, lower intensity burns more in the 'fat zone' whilst you are doing it,but the 'afterburn' of high intensity means that you burn the same amount any way. strength training is important as muscle burns calories wether it's being built ,repaired,or used. protein shakes are ok,just don't over do them,you can get a lot of protein from your everyday food.
  • kyrstensmom
    kyrstensmom Posts: 297 Member
    It sounds to my like your max HR is higher than you think if you can spend all day in the "red zone" and not break a sweat. You might be wise to do a fit test to determine what your true max HR is and then base your calorie burns off of where your workouts fall with that number. I ran 6 miles yesterday in 69 minutes (including warm up/cool down) with an average HR of 161 and max of 180 and burned just over 500 cals according to my HRM. I saw a blog post/forum post (can't remember which) that talked about HRM's and how to make sure they are calibrated correctly with max HR and VO2 max to get the most accurate burn numbers...and even then they are only 80% accurate.
  • George1567
    George1567 Posts: 107
    I like to record what your HRM says. It will be consistant, where you may switch around to different equipment in the gym. Uesing your own HRM gives you a foundation to work from no matter what machine or activity you do. Not knowing what your weight loss sucess is up to this point leaves some variables to making a recomendation. If you have been making your goals recording the lower equipment generated numbers and eating back or not eating back those calories you don't want to change your intake just because the new monitor says you are burining more.....you were buring more before you just didnt know it. Look at what your data said before and adjust accordingly to your new HRM data. If you were losing more than what you had set in your goals, then the new HRM info tells you why. Useing MFP and your HRM gives you the ability to look at your trends over a period of time and make changes as needed to reach your goals.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    Screwed up this post, ignore.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    HRMs are more accurate. I used to work for a cardio manufacturer and typically, their default "person" is a fit, 185lb man... so even if you put in your personal data, the math is not going to be quite right. It's hard to explain but trust your HRM.
    Thanks, that makes sense, the equipment never seemed to change the cals/min unless the strides/min changed despite my HR so I was thinking it was more of a generic number. I'll use my HRM #s and trust they are more accurate.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    Love my FT7, so I would go with that. I find it much more accurate since it's all set up for you personally, unlike the machines.
    Thanks, my FT7 is pretty new but it seems like I'm going to be a big fan. I like the fact it tracks numbers when I'm not using cardio equipment also so huge benefit there!
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    the good thing about high intensity workouts is that they speed up your metabalism and so when you stop exercising you are still burning calories, lower intensity burns more in the 'fat zone' whilst you are doing it,but the 'afterburn' of high intensity means that you burn the same amount any way. strength training is important as muscle burns calories wether it's being built ,repaired,or used. protein shakes are ok,just don't over do them,you can get a lot of protein from your everyday food.
    Good info, I knew higher intensity was better overall which is good for me because I can't stand on an elliptical/treadmill and stay in the fat zone without being incredibly bored.

    I use protein shakes as I don't get as much protein as I should some days and a buddy told me to eat 50% protein. I've dropped that number to a more manageable number ( I believe 35%) and even with workout cals/burned I get close to the protein I need.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    It sounds to my like your max HR is higher than you think if you can spend all day in the "red zone" and not break a sweat. You might be wise to do a fit test to determine what your true max HR is and then base your calorie burns off of where your workouts fall with that number. I ran 6 miles yesterday in 69 minutes (including warm up/cool down) with an average HR of 161 and max of 180 and burned just over 500 cals according to my HRM. I saw a blog post/forum post (can't remember which) that talked about HRM's and how to make sure they are calibrated correctly with max HR and VO2 max to get the most accurate burn numbers...and even then they are only 80% accurate.

    Ok cool, I'll have to look into this and see if I can get it better tuned to my personal settings. BTW I may have mispoke I can't spend all day in the red zone, but the cardio zone without breaking a sweat. When I get into the red zone especially off the charts I definately feel it more. The cardio zone is pretty low though with the max of 162 bpm so I try to stay at the top of that but tend to go over a lot.
  • SLippi
    SLippi Posts: 22 Member
    I like to record what your HRM says. It will be consistant, where you may switch around to different equipment in the gym. Uesing your own HRM gives you a foundation to work from no matter what machine or activity you do. Not knowing what your weight loss sucess is up to this point leaves some variables to making a recomendation. If you have been making your goals recording the lower equipment generated numbers and eating back or not eating back those calories you don't want to change your intake just because the new monitor says you are burining more.....you were buring more before you just didnt know it. Look at what your data said before and adjust accordingly to your new HRM data. If you were losing more than what you had set in your goals, then the new HRM info tells you why. Useing MFP and your HRM gives you the ability to look at your trends over a period of time and make changes as needed to reach your goals.

    Thanks, the HRM is consistant and if I'm using weights I still get to track my results. So far I've lost 4 pounds in about 3 weeks which the trainers at my gym say is standard but I've been told I'm looking slimer which means I'm probably building some muscle as well and burned more than 4 pounds of fat which is great. I've been using MFP for 3 weeks and the HRM for a couple days so I'll definately be keeping track of the new trends. If I'm eating too much because my HRM is too high than I'll start logging the lower numbers again.
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