HRM Caloric Conversion?

I got a Polar FT40 last week, and I love it. I use it when I work out from start (30+ min Cardio) to finish (30+ min weight lifting);

I lift fairly quickly, to keep my heart rate up - typically 50-10 intervals, and if not, then 10 reps, 4 exercises, 3 sets with roughly 45 seconds rest between each exercise, then switch to a new 2 or 3 exercise circuit.

Typically, in an hour session, based on my heart rate/calorie reading, I burn between 650-800 Gross calories.

I convert those to Net Calories, and then put those into my exercise log.

However, that puts me consuming over 2000 calories if I eat back my exercise calories (which I always do). My TDEE is around there. My BMR is around 1480, so my net calorie consumption goal is 1500-1550 per day.

My concern is that I'm eating too many calories - that perhaps my exercise calories are too high, or I shouldn't be recording calories burned during weight training? Before getting my HRM, I was only recording my cardio calories and eating those back (roughly 250-400 calories).

Granted, my goal is to replace fat with muscle so I understand weight gain, but my measurements haven't changed much over the past 6 weeks, and I've been exercising in the 65-80% max HR zone, just without the HRM.

A little info to go off of:
5'8.5"
144-ish
C: 35.5"
W: 27.5"
H: 39.75"

I am trying to be patient but it's frustrating that I haven't seen a consistent measurement change since February.
Ideas, advice?

Replies

  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    I get my FT40 today. I am nervous and excited. Nervous to find out if I have been recording the right calorie burn. Excited to know I will have a more accurate number.

    Question: what do you mean you convert to net calories. So I don't record what the HRM says ? I need to do a conversion?

    Thanks for your help!
  • AReisenfeld
    AReisenfeld Posts: 9 Member
    This explains it pretty well:

    http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/articles/net-versus-gross-calorie-burn.aspx

    It basically means you take the amount of calories burned during exercise and subtract out the calorie you would have burned had you not been exercising - prevents double counting and makes a difference over the long run!
  • tryinghard71
    tryinghard71 Posts: 593
    OMG! Thank you soooooo much!!! Did not know this at all.
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    often wondered if the calorie meters on gym kit subtracted the 70 cal/hr I would burn anyway - it appears not.

    May partly explain why an obese female is given the power output of an elite athlete by these things.