Total wake up cal...(HRM)

I am more apt to believe the Elliptical Machine. I am usually on the Treadmill for 43 mins and both my HRM and the treadmill come to about 500 calories.

I suspect that your settings on the HRM need to be set up correctly. Try resetting the hrm.

Could be possible that you need to calibrate your HRM with a fit test... see your manual BUT, yes indeed, I found that often cals from cardio machines and web sites are higher than HRM because of the actual effort made doing them.

I had the exact opposite experience when I started using my HRM. It shows my calorie burn as quite a bit higher than MFP. Of course, you have to take into account that MFP has no control for speed or intensity level. It just looks at your weight, height stats and the workout time. The HRM knows how hard you are working. I don't think any of the technology we use today is entirely accurate, but the HRM probably comes the closest.

I can't wait to try it out in a yoga class and see how that compares to the MFP estimate!

It would be nice if you could enter some parameters into the MFP calculations. Other than time, that is. For instance, if the MFP allowed you to enter time, average HR, and average speed, it would present you with a better estimate of the # of calories burned...... which would in turn let us figure out where we REALLY stand.

Here's a question - do you all continue to wear your HRM after your workout until your heart rate is back to where it started and count your calories burned at that point (heart rate back to normal), or do you only count exactly what was burned during actual exercise, even if your heart rate is still elevated when you're done?

The problem if you are doing that is that the HRM is estimating your burn assuming a certain oxygen uptake, once you are no longer exercising, even if your HR is elevated, your oxygen uptake is much less and thus the HRM will over estimate calories burned for that period of time. But I also realize that you would be burning more than at "normal" rest, so it is a personal choice. what I would point out is that the HRM calculates total cals burned (which includes maintenance cals that are already accounted for in MFP) so if you stop right when you are done what you burn while your HR is coming down should make up for the over estimation by double counting maintenance calories, once in MFP and again when you enter the exercise (assuming you enter the number on your HRM into MFP).

Ok, so help me to do this correctly tonight. When I get to the gym I put my chest strap on and my watch on and upon stepping onto the machine I press start. I generally do two miles on the stairmaster and then jump directly on the treadmill - I am assuming I just let the HRM continue on as I switch between the two machines and press stop as soon as I'm done jogging on the treadmill. Do I have this right? I never thought this would be so confusing, was just looking for an easy way to see how many calories I burn lol

Here's a question - do you all continue to wear your HRM after your workout until your heart rate is back to where it started and count your calories burned at that point (heart rate back to normal), or do you only count exactly what was burned during actual exercise, even if your heart rate is still elevated when you're done?

I start mine right when I begin and stopped immediately after I finish... Now in that time I have a 5 min warm up and 5 min cool down....... but that is it.......

This might be a dumb question, but how does the hrm know how many calories we burn? I just got a new one, with a chest strap, and it said I burned 1256 by jogging four miles at only 6mph and a half hour of strength training. Thats way more than even mfp would credit that. Didn't seem super accurate but settings are correct.

Also, does fat burn stop or slow down when we get into cardio zone? I like to work out and push myself,hard, but am I sabotaging myself by not staying in the "far burning" zone?

Because there is a direct correlation between heart rate and workout intensity between a certain heart rate range. Your heart rate is the best way to gauge your calories burned next to actually going and having a test done in a laboratory. As far as fat burning in the 'cardio zone' - you will burn less calories as fat (~50%) in this zone than you will in the typical 'fat burning' zone (~75%) because at that point your exercise become anaerobic rather than aerobic. If you are trying to lose weight, stick to the fat burning zone as long as you want to burn fat.

No no no, ignore zones and just work your *kitten* off. you burn more as a % cals from fat in the lower zone, but less calories and less total fat calories then when working our harder. And due to the recovery process you will burn more fat after the fact the harder you workout.

I am having the exact opposite problem. My HRM always tells me I burn on average about 200 calories more than any machine or what MFP says. I am so confused. My heart rate while working out ranges anywhere from 161-185. I usually maintain the 170ish range while keeping a steady pace. Any tips or advice as to the correct amount burned would be helpful!!

That's keeping your heart rate pretty high. Believe the HRM.

The issue might be that your actual max HR may be higher than the calculation in the HRM, the HRM assumes you are working at X % of a calculated max, but if your Max HR is actually higher your % of max would be lower. You may want to look into having your max HR tested to see if it is higher than 220-your age.

There is a new formula for women: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/05/recalibrated-formula-eases-womens-workouts/

206-.88*(your age) = max heart rate for women

I have a polar FT7 and I have found that it and the machines are very close, within 50 calories or so. I also just got a body bugg. Also very close. However, since getting the body bugg, I have learned that MFP's estimate for my TDEE is much lower than what I actually burn in a day when I don't exercise. However, if I exercise, and I eat those calories back per MFP, I have a very small deficit remaining. So I am going to try not eating all my exercise calories back.

To the lady that asked about wearing your HRM after you finish working out...your heart rate should return to resting fairly quickly. That is a measure of how healthy your heart is.

Ok, totally jumping in on an unrelated topic, but, you all seem to know what you're talking about and I'm stuck.

How do I find out what my heart rate is supposed to be? Different target zones, high heart rate alarm, etc?

Thanks and sorry for the hijack

ignore zones, just stay below your max HR and try to keep your HR as high as you can for the duration of working out (this is for cardio) if you workout for an hour you may only be able to sustain an HR of 150, but for a 30 min workout you may be able to keep it at 160. The harder you workout the more cals you burn, the more fit you become, the better and faster your results. Of course if you are new to working out build up to this don't go full out right away.

Working your heart harder (higher heart rate) burns more calories after the workout when you are resting. More calories burned - better results.

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/exercise/story/2011-09-01/Bonus-for-exercisers-Calories-burn-long-after-workout/50224116/1

Ok, totally jumping in on an unrelated topic, but, you all seem to know what you're talking about and I'm stuck.

How do I find out what my heart rate is supposed to be? Different target zones, high heart rate alarm, etc?

Thanks and sorry for the hijack

ignore zones, just stay below your max HR and try to keep your HR as high as you can for the duration of working out (this is for cardio) if you workout for an hour you may only be able to sustain an HR of 150, but for a 30 min workout you may be able to keep it at 160. The harder you workout the more cals you burn, the more fit you become, the better and faster your results. Of course if you are new to working out build up to this don't go full out right away.

Working your heart harder (higher heart rate) burns more calories after the workout when you are resting. More calories burned - better results.

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/exercise/story/2011-09-01/Bonus-for-exercisers-Calories-burn-long-after-workout/50224116/1

Thank you both. How do I figure out what my max HR should be. I am *really* new to using HRMs, lol. :blushing:

This might be a dumb question, but how does the hrm know how many calories we burn? I just got a new one, with a chest strap, and it said I burned 1256 by jogging four miles at only 6mph and a half hour of strength training. Thats way more than even mfp would credit that. Didn't seem super accurate but settings are correct.

HRM's do not accurately report calories burned when doing any exercise under a load. So if you are lifting weights, the HRM will grossly over report your burn. Don't use the HRM to measure when you lift.

I've done both (machine and hrm ) and only nitced maybe a 15 calories difference. I dont usually go by mfp unless i forget to get my monitor on.

I always go by my HRM! The best piece of fitness equipment I bought!

This is good info. Thanks. I am getting a HRM because I have been on a plateau and no matter what I do, I can't seem to break it. i think that MFP is overestimating my calories as well.