Why did you want a HRM?

KF1216
KF1216 Posts: 175 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey folks:)
I've been thinking about rewarding myself for 20lbs lost (which should happen in a week or two) by buying a HRM, but now I can't decide if I really NEED one. I have been using MFP's estimates for exercise and am aware that they are slightly (or not so slightly) inflated and plan accordingly, and so far I am losing weight just fine. I think it would be cool to know exactly what my burn is, but if I'm doing fine weightloss-wise without one, is it really necessarily? I'm wondering if I should wait and get one later on, maybe if I reach a plateau some day or something, then it would be really helpful for knowing the precise picture but for now, maybe the guess is good enough? Please share your reasoning for getting one and how you like having it so far. Thanks!!

Replies

  • Colbyandsage
    Colbyandsage Posts: 751 Member
    I got mine for 2 reasons. One because I have a heart condition n want to also get my heart in an awesome shape ( quick recovery mostly) but also for calories burned.

    I love mine! It's like a game to me, I watch HR while working out then guess how high :) its the best 66 bucks I ever spend. :flowerforyou:
  • coquette87
    coquette87 Posts: 114
    Mostly to get a better idea of how hard I'm working and what my calorie burn actually is. I can ball park it when I'm on the treadmill, but it'll soon be outdoor running season (slowly, slowly, the snow and ice are retreating...) and it helps me run more effectively outside since I'm doing C25K.
  • lorac321
    lorac321 Posts: 614 Member
    I thought MFP was too generous on calories burned and that is why I wanted one. I love, love, love my HRM.
  • jademh
    jademh Posts: 94
    I just ordered my hrm last week (a polar one - should be arriving this week yay!)

    My reasoning?
    Welll, MFP overestimates calories burned on myself BY FAR. I know this because the elliptical I use at the gym has a polar HRM we can wear, and it's sometimes off by over 100 calories! I think getting the HRM will help in weight loss, because i'll know the correct # of exercise calories so I won't eat back too many or too few.

    I also do the Insanity workouts, and HRM are highly recommended (although I've completed insanity 2x, on round 3 so don't ask why i'm just getting one now lol)

    I did try one from Wal mart...it was junk, just a heads up. :) I ordered mine off amazon.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I wanted to get a more accurate read of my calories burned, and to be able to log exerices that aren't in the MFP database.
  • froeschli
    froeschli Posts: 1,293 Member
    I had mine from 10 years ago... If i remember correctly, it was on sale and i didn't want to use the ones my school provided - eeewwwww sharing....

    Now i like it to judge my running (c25k), and i am using it to monitor my HIIT workouts... i actually found the calories burned on the wii fit, and running, estimated by runkeeper (when it actually is working) are pretty much within 10% of the HRM. I'd say my activity level setting is off more than that... :tongue:
  • katkins3
    katkins3 Posts: 1,359 Member
    I got my Garmin so I have as accurate as possible picture of calories burned, (I eat back most of my calories and didn't want to fool myself).
    Added bonus: I find that looking back at my progress has been a great motivator to continue improving.
  • bjfrezell
    bjfrezell Posts: 241
    Before I had an HRM, I would either overestimate or underestimate how hard I was working. Now I have a better picture of what I'm doing. And it's incentive for me to work harder to see how I progress. I highly recommend getting an HRM with a chest strap if you do decide to get one.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    OK, I think the calorie burn has been well covered........another reason to get a heart rate monitor is to track your improvements in cardiovascular health. Looking back and seeing the same run being 10 or 15 BPM lower than the previous year is tangible proof that the hard work is worth it.
  • fteale
    fteale Posts: 5,310 Member
    I wanted to chart my fitness.
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    It is fantastic motivation - if I'm busting my butt during a workout, I see quantifiable results in the form of a higher heartrate and higher calorie burn. If I'm tired or just not giving my best effort, it shows, and I can either bump up my effort or take it as my cue to take a rest day.

    I bought mine in September, I had just hit the 10 lb milestone through MFP's calorie goals alone and I wanted to get motivated to exercise. Since 9/6/11 I have officially used it 192 times for a total of over 135 hours and have burned over 64,000 calories. Oh yeah. It was so worth it. Those numbers just show me how hard I have worked since I got it and make me want to work even harder. I say go for it!
  • ariant23
    ariant23 Posts: 161 Member
    Ok, if I get one, do i wear it all the time? or only when i workout? How exactly does it work for calories and stuff?
  • CMmrsfloyd
    CMmrsfloyd Posts: 2,380 Member
    Ok, if I get one, do i wear it all the time? or only when i workout? How exactly does it work for calories and stuff?

    Depends on what you get. If you get a heartrate monitor, you wear it only when you workout, you program in your height/weight/age/gender and it monitors your heartrate as you workout and uses a formula to give you an estimate of how many calories you may have burned while working out. They are designed to be used only while working out, their formulas are supposedly not as accurate if you're not specifically exercising.

    There are also other devices, like the BodyBugg and BodyMedia Fit armbands, that are designed such that you wear them all day, whether you're working out or sleeping, all day long, and they estimate how many calories your body uses throughout the course of the day. You have to take it off when showering but other than that you can wear it all day.
  • Chuckempire
    Chuckempire Posts: 44
    It seams to be the most accurate way to calculate burned calories. I use my just about everyday. I highly recomend one, try to polar ft60...
  • Hjbaker
    Hjbaker Posts: 165 Member
    Until I read this I had not even considered buying a hrm.... guess what I am going to do tomorrow..... THANKS!
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