Heart Rate Monitor and Calorie Counter

RKJR925
RKJR925 Posts: 254
edited September 18 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone use the wrist watch looking heart rate monitor with the calorie counter on it. I noticed many people in the spin classes at my gym use them.

Any reccomendations

Replies

  • RKJR925
    RKJR925 Posts: 254
    Does anyone use the wrist watch looking heart rate monitor with the calorie counter on it. I noticed many people in the spin classes at my gym use them.

    Any reccomendations
  • Caddieseamus
    Caddieseamus Posts: 28
    I have a Polar F6. It's around $100. It is awesome. It tracks your calories and heart rate. You can upload your progress to your computer.

    It is waterproof as well, so you can swim and do water aerobics if that is your thing.

    It was money well spent for me.

    I also wear it on dog walks, mowing the lawn....other things that I like to count as "exercise" to see if I am actually getting any benefit.
  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    I have the Polar F11, which is one of their higher-priced models. It was a treat present to myself, and they make lots of other options, but Polar is the one brand I've consistently heard good things about.

    If you decide to purchase one: the ones with a chest strap are more accurate than an "on demand" one, and less trouble. The chest strap is not uncomfortable (just takes a bit to get used to)

    I LOVE MINE!!! It's really made me feel like my workouts are more productive. Also, it's allowed me to efficiently use my workout time for maximum results.

    It's the best investment I've made. I credit it with knocking off the last five stubborn pounds!:flowerforyou:
  • SteveGoTex
    SteveGoTex Posts: 3
    I have also used a Polar unit. I do not recall the model number. It had a wireless trasmitter that went around your chest, and the "wristwatch" received the signals and presented the data. One other benefit was that many of the cardio machines at the health club could receive your heart rate and help you pace your workout on them.

    The only downside was that the transmitter unit had to be sent back to the factory to replace the battery. You could not replace it yourself.
  • Helawat
    Helawat Posts: 605 Member
    I too love my Polar F6 :heart: Mine has a chest strap and is pretty accurate. According to my heart rate monitor, I burned 596 calories during cardio kickboxing which delighted me!

    It's a great investment if you plan to continue this weight loss/lifestyle journey. I find that my watch encourages me to do more exercise because I know I didn't spend money on that watch to use it for a month and I look forward to seeing how many calories I burn for each cardio class I do.

    I love my watch, I feel like I should be giving it a name like Watchie or Watchette. Yes, Watchette will do.
  • RKJR925
    RKJR925 Posts: 254
    Many of the folks like the ones with out the chest strap that just go on your wrist. Does anyone use the type wihtout the chest strap
  • RKJR925
    RKJR925 Posts: 254
    Many of the folks like the ones with out the chest strap that just go on your wrist. Does anyone use the type wihtout the chest strap
  • lotusfromthemud
    lotusfromthemud Posts: 5,335 Member
    Without the chest strap, you have to manually check your pulse by touching points on the watch itself, which is difficult to do during activity. Also, in my understanding, they just make a good estimate of your calorie burn, as they aren't monitoring your heart rate during your entire exercise session.

    Also, the chest strap goes under your clothes, so are you sure they aren't wearing them? (In your spin class, I mean)

    Also, on the newer model Polars, you can change the battery in the strap yourself. The watch battery still needs to get changed at the factory, to preserve the water-resistance.
  • jvball21
    jvball21 Posts: 33
    RK... I purchased a MIO (no strap) at Walmart back in January and I thought it was fine at the time, but I came to realize that I needed to keep checking my HR every time I changed my level of workout, otherwise the calorie count would not be accurate. I forgot to do that on more than 1 occasion and it became a hassle. If you're running, it gets harder to get your rate unless you stop to check it and then continue running. I regret that purchase.

    I heard about the Polars first on this site and researched it and found that I wanted the F11 model. I have no regrets! I highly recommend it. It gives you a constant HR reading. You put the strap on and press a few buttons and you don't need to worry about it for the rest of your workout, and it has a few features you might find useful when want to track your progress.
  • wildkitty505
    wildkitty505 Posts: 222 Member
    Does anyone use the wrist watch looking heart rate monitor with the calorie counter on it. I noticed many people in the spin classes at my gym use them.

    Any reccomendations

    I've been looking into the Polar HRMs and if you decide to go with one and you're going to use it at your gym where you've seen a lot of other people using HRMs you should think about paying more and going with the F11. It is a wireless signal that goes between the chest strap and the wrist and there can be interference from other wireless HRMs. The F11 has a feature that keeps the signals from getting confused.

    Just something I thought was worth thinking about. I still haven't decided which model I want.
  • jcummings69
    jcummings69 Posts: 183
    I originally bought a MIO from Walmart, but returned it when I realized you have to manually check your pulse with it while working out. Didn't seem very accurate to me. I went ahead and bought the polar f6 for about $90. The chest strap doesn't bother me at all either.
  • banks1850
    banks1850 Posts: 3,475 Member
    I have also used a Polar unit. I do not recall the model number. It had a wireless trasmitter that went around your chest, and the "wristwatch" received the signals and presented the data. One other benefit was that many of the cardio machines at the health club could receive your heart rate and help you pace your workout on them.

    The only downside was that the transmitter unit had to be sent back to the factory to replace the battery. You could not replace it yourself.

    Most likely an F6, they don't have the replacable battery, the F11 you can replace the battery, not sure about the F4. Opp, I just read Helawat's message, maybe mine is just older? But I got it in December, that would suck! I wonder if they exchange?
  • Caddieseamus
    Caddieseamus Posts: 28
    You can also get the F6 with a strap that doesn't cross signals with other moniters. The strap doesn't bother me and they do come in different sizes.

    You can also set it to alarm when you get out of your 'zone' of weight loss. Many cool features. I bet the F11 is even nicer. I just wasn't sure I would use it when I bought it.

    Strong proponent. I have had mine for about two years and have well gotten my money's worth.
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