Disappointing first workout with HRM -- Help

Try your workout out again- try to bump up your heart rate to a bit higher and see the difference. When I work out, I try to be in a zone of 140-160 for running and cardiovascular exercise. In my workout classes, I have peaks and lows....but I work to keep in a higher zone to burn more calories. When I used to do the 30 day shred, I would only burn 200-220 calories in a half hour.....i think MFP really overestimates calorie burn with its calculators! To get a high burn, I literally have to work out for over an hour, intense, and with some sort of running. Don't be disappointed- look at it as a step to a healthier life. When I first started, my burns were around the 300-400 range maximum. Everyday you will do more and more and bump up the intensity and burn more!

Its probably pretty accurate.

Take a read:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/normal-weight-men-and-women-overestimate-energy-expenditure-research-review.html

I tend to burn around 250 for a 30 minute workout and I only weigh 126.0 currently, but my average heartrate is normally 150 and max is usually 165-175. If you can push yourself a little harder, you will get a better result in terms of calorie estimation. If you've been doing the exact same workout for awhile, you might consider trying something different that will challenge your body in different ways so that you have to work harder.

Even though the numbers are disappointing, they are probably more realistic since they are based partially off of your effort during the exercise, and even though you don't like those lower numbers they may have some positive results for you - one being that it will motivate you to work harder, and two being that you will no longer be over-estimating your exercise calories so if you eat them you won't be over-eating them, so you very well may see better results on the scale. Don't let the numbers get you down, let them motivate you. :-)

I put your stats into this website calculator: http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/heart-rate-based-calorie-burn-calculator.aspx

And got about 250 for 40 mins at that average heart rate.

Double check all your settings are correct, including your age and max heart rate.

If it is in fact accurate, although it is depressing, it is better that you know!

Ok I have another question. When ever I work out I sweat like crazy and give it all I've got. If I am not sweating I feel like I haven't done anything. Then when I am done working out I go take a shower, dry off and get ready for school. During the first hour of being in school the whole first hour I am extremely hot even tho it may be 30 degrees outside and I sweat minorly as if I am still working out. Why does my body do this?

My body does this when I don't do enough of a cool down. It usually happens when I'm trying to rush it. It also happens to me when I take too hot of a shower immediately after working out.

As far as the HRM, in the long run it's a good thing to find this out now. I bet you are not pushing yourself as hard as you can and that's what the HRM is telling you.

A nasty HRM helps it to determine how much it really burns. MFP lies and cheats us it does and tells us it burns and freezes more calories than it really does and so it eats and doesnt lose filthy weight and it gets upset and frustrated and cries to the precious...

You will burn a lot more calories if you can bump up your workout in little spurts (also known as interval training). So every 3 minutes or so, work out as hard as you can to get your HR up to the maximum, for about 30 seconds. Then bring it back down, another 3 minutes, and take it up again. Also, stretch out after your workout and keep your HRM on, you will be burning more calories than you thought after the workout!

I need some help. Please tell me if this calorie burn could possibly be correct. If so, I'm floored. I did my usual workout, which is roughly 30 minutes of low-impact aerobics and 10 minutes warmup/stretching.

Polar FT4
Duration: 38:34
Calories burned: 180
Average HR: 135
Max HR: 157
In zone: 33:26

I weigh 292 pounds (my weight/height are entered into the HRM) and am, obviously, very out of shape. Is this really all I burned? If I subtract the 80 or so calories I would have burned watching TV, I burned an extra 100 calories in a 40 minute workout? Say it ain't so.

I think you need to be patient. You didn't gain the weight overnight, and it is going to take time to lose it. You are carrying alot of weight right now, so you don't want to overtax your heart by exceeding a healthy zone. I have been using the FT4 for 18 mos. and find it to be very accurate, assuming you entered your data accurately. I would try to gradually extend the length of your workout to 40-50 minutes. Once you get in shape, you will find it easier to workout, and will see the results, which will motivate you to continue. Don't worry so much about numbers at this point. Just try to find a routine that you can commit to. Once those endorphins kick in, you will be hooked. Remember, fitness is a journey, not a destination. Good luck!

Ok I have another question. When ever I work out I sweat like crazy and give it all I've got. If I am not sweating I feel like I haven't done anything. Then when I am done working out I go take a shower, dry off and get ready for school. During the first hour of being in school the whole first hour I am extremely hot even tho it may be 30 degrees outside and I sweat minorly as if I am still working out. Why does my body do this?

Its quite possible that your body hasnt really had enough time to cooldown. Maybe your body still hasnt regulated its core temperature after your workout. I know that has happened to me...when I was in college, I took a PE class and didnt have enough time to cooldown, just quickly wiped down, got dressed and ran to my next class. The whole time my body still wasnt cooled down from class and now Im rushing to get dressed and head to class. My HR was still elevated which made my body temp go up which as a result I started to sweat.

Does that make sense?

I had the same exact thing happened to me, but guess what now I push myself at the gym and burning real 900 calories on the HRM last week was just an awesome feeling. So you will get over it and really we DO want to know the truth because we dont want to over eat what we should not be over eating. I initially burned 200-250 calories on an average workout where I would be couting 500 calories burned, so make your new HRM your new PAL and happy tracking! Oh all I did for the 900 calories burn was 1 hour on elliptical which I love with fast music and 30 min TM plus some weights, but I had 500 calories burned just on the elliptical...I made sure my heart rate was spiking between 150-160 and then I would relax and go to 140s...etc. Hope this helps.

I have a Polar FT4 as well. The first time I used it I was disappointed. I honestly thought I was burning a lot more. I would guess it was accurate with you, as it was with me. When I did the same DVD again (30DS) I worked even harder. I gave it everything I had. I burned and extra 137 calories. so, my 201 from before was now 338 calories. Made me realizes that I really need to push it to burn calories and lose weight.

Also, MFP has be very high when I do the stair stepper at the gym. Had me at 600+ calories for 30 min. on the stairstepper. With my HRM, it comes to approx 340 in 30 min.

Did you set the HRM up correctly.... by entering your weight, sex, etc.?

It does have a chest strap, and I did wet the sensors. The heart rate seems accurate. I'll just have to accept that THIS is my burn for now. I do push myself, believe me. At this weight and having fibromyaliga, working out at this level for 40 minutes is all I got in me. I'm going to try a more intense workout for a shorter duration and check out the burn on that.

Damn MFP calorie burn lies! Everyone needs to be warned....DO...NOT...TRUST...THE...MFP.

MFP/Cardio machine all lie. Even most HRM are inaccurate by 30%. This is why i wish people would calculate their maintence calories based on their activity level and subtract 500 cal from that. Instead of guessing at their exercise calories and eating those.

I don't have time to read all the post here, so if this is redundant I apologize. Go to this thread. The OP has an nice explanation how to set up a hrm.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/429688-new-hrm-how-to-make-the-calorie-estimate-more-accurate