Zumba and HRM

KLaurean
KLaurean Posts: 112
in Fitness and Exercise
Today I bought one of those wristwatch HRM's. Now, I know it isn't going to be as accurate as a chest strap, but right now I'm tight on money and I just wanted to get a general idea of how many calories I'm burning. My first problem was that it wouldn't let me change my age or sex on it. So I figured I could just get a really rough estimate since I couldn't get that info....

I checked it after an hour of doing Zumba and it had said I only burned 75 calories. I wasn't half a**ing it either.

So my question is, should I just stop stressing out about it and accept that I have only burned that much, or should I just take the HRM back and save up for a chest strap?

Replies

  • anniebeeee
    anniebeeee Posts: 20
    Buy one with a chest strap. I burn anywhere between 500 and 800 calories when I do Zumba. Depends on if it's the 45 minute or hour class.
  • wheezybreezy
    wheezybreezy Posts: 313 Member
    You would burn that walking at slow pace in an hour. Hopefully you can take it back. Check amazon for the one with the chest strap! I use a Polar FT4. I never buy myself anything, but I figured I deserved it.
  • shovav91
    shovav91 Posts: 2,335 Member
    I'm sorry you wasted your money! I hate when things like that happen. I generally burn 300-400 calories an hour with zumba, so that does seem wildly inaccurate. I have a Polar FT4 and love it!
  • xoeva
    xoeva Posts: 209 Member
    Buy one with a chest strap. I burn anywhere between 500 and 800 calories when I do Zumba. Depends on if it's the 45 minute or hour class.
    This is what I've read 500-800 ...do you know why Zumba burns more than a typcial aerobics class? I just took my first Zumba class on Friday and loved it. But I didn't think I burnt 500 calories...it seemed too much. I like dancing and the teacher was great, but I thought that 300 would be more like it. I weight 169 5'5 What do you think?
  • snewsome7
    snewsome7 Posts: 189
    Zumba burns sooo much more than that. I would take it back and try and save up for one with a chest strap. I am doing that myself. If you use Zumba on the Wii, the 2nd one has calories burned in the progress tracker. But I don't know how accurate that is. Good luck!!
  • kathyc727
    kathyc727 Posts: 187 Member
    I wore mine for the first time tonight. After 60 mins. of busting my a**, I only burned 140 calories. I also accidentally paused it a few times because my wrist would bump the button. I am very disappointed in it. Guess I'll be saving for the chest strap too.
  • LovelyLibra79
    LovelyLibra79 Posts: 569 Member
    Invest in a good HRM its worth it!! then you have no worries or let me downs!
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I do 30-40 mins & manage to burn almost 300cal. Some days less, Other days more. Get a cheap one off ebay. I got a Polar FT4 for under $70 from ebay. It was from a UK seller but they post here to Australia thank god. Otherwise go to http://www.zumbacalories.com/ and put your info in there.
  • MissMaryMac33
    MissMaryMac33 Posts: 1,433 Member
    If it doesn't have a chest strap its not anywhere near accurate for tracking calories.
    You're better off returning it and buying a better on eon Amazon -- look for Polar FT4 -- thats probably the cheapest "good" one you can get and they aren't that much. You get what you pay for!

    As a reference, I wear a Polar FT60 and have been doing Zumba 4-6x a week for over a year.
    Depending on the teach and my mood, I burn anywhere from 350-550 during an hour.
  • SparkleShine
    SparkleShine Posts: 2,001 Member
    I have a Polar f4 and burn between 500-600 calories. I'm 5'6" and 157lbs
  • Unleda
    Unleda Posts: 4 Member
    I use a bodybugg to monitor my calorie burn and according to my bodybugg, I burn 750 calories in an hour of Zumba. MFP estimates 705 calories burned doing ”general aerobics”. So MFP is actually really close to my actual burn. If you can return it I would wait to save up for something more reliable.
  • TLCLuvNLife
    TLCLuvNLife Posts: 17
    I know you said that your budget won't allow anything too expensive. However, if you return the HRM, I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND the FITBIT!!! It is the best way to know how many steps u take, how many flights of stairs, how many calories u burn and how active u are. It also tells you how much u r sleeping, which is actually great information if u need to have a FULL good nights sleep to be ready to go the next day.

    Anyway, the Fitbit isn't cheap, (it runs about $99.00-$100.00). It is well worth the money! I never take mine off. Especially, when I'm working out, it will give me all the info I need. I just confirm that it matches on the Fitbit site, as well as MFP.

    Well, good luck! I hope u find whatever it is that you need!
  • obsidianwings
    obsidianwings Posts: 1,237 Member
    I have been logging zumba as aerobics and it says I burn much less than everyone says here, so hopefully I am underestimating :) Although maybe I don't burn so much as i'm quite small.
    Those wristwatch ones look rubbish, I decided i'd rather just log as aerobics than do that, but if you can afford a chest strap on at some point I would do it :)

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