Help understanding the HRM....

brookepenni
brookepenni Posts: 787 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi guys,

I need some help. Ive recently upgraded my Garmin GPS watch and HRM - now I have the forerunner 610. I did have the 110. I love the watch, love the GPS and the free software. But I have a problem with the HRM.... The first Garmin/HRM I thought might have just been broken or not syncing to my watch correctly - but its now almost identical this time - so perhaps its me...??

OK - the problem is...

My HRM tells me I burn very low calories. For example -

A 4km walk, average speed 9min per km (thats a 4mph spead, give or take), 34mins - supposedly I burn just 84 calories. I break a sweat. Before I started wearing my HRM both Garmin and MFP would give me figures of 170-190....

Body Attack - which is high impact aerobics - very high. 60mins and by track 2 I am sweating litterally falling off my face. I do the push up track and its running down my nose and onto the carpet. Its marketed at a 650 average burn, and I work hard - so hard I've been asked to train as an instructor. MFP has high impact aerobics at 450. My HRM said 320. My partner who thinks I work harder than he does - he burns almost 700 in the same session.

I could go on... But I want to know - am I just super fit or a freak? These seem to be the same calories no matter which HRM I used - both Garmins have given me almost identical figures. Could they both be wrong/right??

I have configured it correctly. Ive tried both underwire and wireless bras (just in case haha!). My resting heart rate is 58 bpm. I have 10-15lbs left to lose and I have recently run a half marathon. I am fit and healthy. Ive recently had every health test under the sun (Im working in a hospital so need to have a check up regularily) and got the all clear.

Seriously - could this be right??? Ive recently upped my calories and gained wait (yeah all things aside, I know I should give it time etc etc) but if I am only burning 80-300 calories (instead of the 180-600 I was expecting) this would help to explain the gain as I am now eating above TDEE.

Any help, suggestions or recommendations appreciated. I am stumped!

Replies

  • brookepenni
    brookepenni Posts: 787 Member
    Anyone? Help!
  • islaybower
    islaybower Posts: 57
    Your 'new' numbers sound at the low end of average, but not completely unrealistic. I'm not an expert in HRMs, so I can't comment on the brand as a whole, but it's not impossible that you'd be burning those figures. 58 is a good healthy resting heart rate, so you're obviously reasonably fit, as you say.

    Could you maybe get your friend to try your new HRM and see if the results are similarly low compared to their HRM?
  • brookepenni
    brookepenni Posts: 787 Member
    Thanks islaybower - if it's possible, then I guess I'll accept it! I thought it was the first HRM initially, but now it's two - I guess it's fact!

    I didn't think about getting someone else to try it though, that's a great idea.

    Any other suggestions or help is still appreciated!!
  • donrdon
    donrdon Posts: 216 Member
    I have a 405cx and you're right the numbers seem low.(1hr on the elliptical and the machine says I burned 1150 cals while my Garmin says 435) I'll believe the 435 because of the information it uses to come up with the number. Also better to be counting low than inflated numbers.

Categories