heart rate moniters

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Replies

  • tialeanne
    tialeanne Posts: 186 Member
    bookmarked to read later.
  • GeneaCindy
    GeneaCindy Posts: 148 Member
    Love my FT7! I use it to monitor my heart rate and log the calories burned on MFP. If I'm concerned about over/underestimating calories burned, I double check on the caloriesperhour.com website. I also use mine for water aerobics, and it is a bit unreliable as far as picking up my heart beat.

    Good luck!
  • emren
    emren Posts: 4
    bump
  • spartacus69
    spartacus69 Posts: 235
    I have two.
    The first one my wife bought for me 1.5 years ago. About $30. To get a heart rate I have to hold my finger on the watch face. It's good for spot readings, NOT continuous heart rate monitoring. As I sweat more the watch thinks I am trying to get a reading which is not accurate or just no reading.
    I bought a HRM with a chest strap so I could have a continuous reading.
    I am watching my heart rate, not calories burned.

    Here is some interesting reading.
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21178923
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/UponThisRock/view/much-ado-about-heart-rate-263994

    Very informative, esp. the NIH article. Greater than 25% overestimation of energy expenditure. And yet people will still insist how accurate they are for calorie burn.
  • dahc834
    dahc834 Posts: 3
    Here is the deal about Heart Rate Monitors, you can get one from Wal-Mart for sure around $30.00 but what you will find is that it doesn't come with a chest strap and if you want to use your HRM while you are working out you will have to constantly be checking your heart rate instead of getting a constant update from the chest strap. Mio is the brand that I use, I got mine for around $60 and it has the chest strap. It gives me constant feedback and accurate reading while my workout and works as an everyday watch other times. Getting a HRM without a chest strap or some kind of constant reading option is a waste of time and money, if you are going to use this tool for fitness tracking.
  • shell514
    shell514 Posts: 12
    I just got a Timex Ironman HRM from Amazon.com for around $65. It is easy to use.
  • graelwyn
    graelwyn Posts: 1,340 Member
    I got the Polar FT4 weeks ago and it is still sat in its box, because I have been too lazy to try and set it up, and work out how to attach it and everything. I think I get daunted by certain technology, even though I am good with computers.
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    amazon or ebay

    Amazon, I shop there a lot
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    I don't think they are worth the money. MFP is about as accurate.
    \


    YOUR STATEMENT IS <b>inaccurate</b>

    That's ok for you to think that. For the exercises I do, it seems to be so close that it's ridiculous. It's not ok for you to make this statement when I have been comparing for months.

    HAHA why you mad though?

    ok, really guys, I'm looking for useful information, not petty comments. Everyone has their own opinion and that's ok, because I am looking for just that, peoples opinions on the subject.

    And that's what I gave...my opinion. I think your money is better left in the bank because according to my calculations, MFP is close enough. It was a waste of money For me.

    The exception to this will be, if I start running in the sand, I'll need an HRM, because MFP doesn't have "running in the sand". So it will be useful at that point. I may start doing that after my race next week. But, if there is a default cardio exercise in the database, it should be close enough.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I don't think they are worth the money. MFP is about as accurate.

    For those who have a tendency to over-train or under-train, HRM are great tools, as they can keep you in your fitness improvement zone. Prior to obtaining my HRM that counts calories, I just used the entries from MFP. After using my HRM, I realized the calories burned on MFP were grossly over-stated on some items, and understated on others.

    I think it's worth it and anyone who is serious about fitness will tell you the same.
    Same here! I see huge difference under and over from MFP compared to my HRM.

    I narrowed my choices down to either a Polar or a New Balance N4. Chest strap type is a must. Money was tight (heck, still is! :tongue: but my clothes aren't - haha! Yay!), so I looked for both models on eBay - items had to be new in the box, with instructions, and the seller had to take returns in case there was a problem. Within a week I had myself a brand new New Balance N4 for $26. :smile: They go for around $70 in stores and online.


    Do your research here, then check the reviews on Amazon as well - lots of good info. Figure out what you want and hunt down the best price. Good luck!
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    I don't think they are worth the money. MFP is about as accurate.
    \


    YOUR STATEMENT IS <b>inaccurate</b>

    That's ok for you to think that. For the exercises I do, it seems to be so close that it's ridiculous. It's not ok for you to make this statement when I have been comparing for months.

    HAHA why you mad though?

    ok, really guys, I'm looking for useful information, not petty comments. Everyone has their own opinion and that's ok, because I am looking for just that, peoples opinions on the subject.

    And that's what I gave...my opinion. I think your money is better left in the bank because according to my calculations, MFP is close enough. It was a waste of money For me.

    The exception to this will be, if I start running in the sand, I'll need an HRM, because MFP doesn't have "running in the sand". So it will be useful at that point. I may start doing that after my race next week. But, if there is a default cardio exercise in the database, it should be close enough.

    see, and that is one of the problems I'm finding, like when I go to karate, I know I'm working hard, but the MFP cal burned is like 700 something and I don't think I'm burning that much, plus it depends on whether we are doing kata or kumite. also things like cardio workout videos. plus, I'm trying to figure out if the fact that I take a medication that lowers my heart rate effects things
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    see, and that is one of the problems I'm finding, like when I go to karate, I know I'm working hard, but the MFP cal burned is like 700 something and I don't think I'm burning that much, plus it depends on whether we are doing kata or kumite. also things like cardio workout videos. plus, I'm trying to figure out if the fact that I take a medication that lowers my heart rate effects things
    There are always variables, which is why I wanted a HRM for myself - takes the guesswork out of it. For me, the money was worth it, would be even if I'd had to pay full retail. I can't imagine working out without it now.
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    So I got my HRM in, the Polar FT4, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and the elliptical reading said I burned 455, MFP data base came up with 338, and the HRM came up with 217. now I'm more confused than ever. I think I need to give it a few more goes.
  • cinfull360
    cinfull360 Posts: 3 Member
    Polar FT4 HRM here too.. (PINK!) and I love it! Since I wasn't aerobically active and 54 years old, I wanted to make sure I was being smart about my training. I bought the HRM and started the C25K program, love that it syncs with the treadmill I use at the gym!
  • Code2fornow
    Code2fornow Posts: 56 Member
    I also have a Polar but I'm not sure which one- I got it at a Scheels in an open box special for $43. You may want to check places like Scheels, Big 5, Sports Authority or even Best Buy for sales or open box items that you can get for cheap. The one I bought didn't look like it had ever even been used and it's great!
  • Code2fornow
    Code2fornow Posts: 56 Member
    So I got my HRM in, the Polar FT4, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and the elliptical reading said I burned 455, MFP data base came up with 338, and the HRM came up with 217. now I'm more confused than ever. I think I need to give it a few more goes.

    Did you make sure that you have the HRM set up for you? Mine has settings to put in and also requires that I do my "resting" heart rate for 3 mins to set it up for my "ideal" results.
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    So I got my HRM in, the Polar FT4, I did 30 minutes on the elliptical, and the elliptical reading said I burned 455, MFP data base came up with 338, and the HRM came up with 217. now I'm more confused than ever. I think I need to give it a few more goes.

    Did you make sure that you have the HRM set up for you? Mine has settings to put in and also requires that I do my "resting" heart rate for 3 mins to set it up for my "ideal" results.


    I did set it up for me, but it didn't ask anything about monitering my resting heart rate for 3 minutes. Maybe I will go to the web site and make sure I have it set up correctly, the cal burned it came up with seemed really low to me.
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    Polar FT4 HRM here too.. (PINK!) and I love it! Since I wasn't aerobically active and 54 years old, I wanted to make sure I was being smart about my training. I bought the HRM and started the C25K program, love that it syncs with the treadmill I use at the gym!


    I didn't realize until I tried it out at the gym that it synced with the equipment there and I love that feature. the heart rate was right on with what the moniter was reading, but the cal burned were way off
  • LisaBeateith2012
    LisaBeateith2012 Posts: 346 Member
    bump
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    .
  • denise4230
    denise4230 Posts: 82 Member
    It's been a couple weeks now with the polar FT4 HRM and I LOVE it! Yes, it was under for some things, but for others, where there really is no data base it works great! I was grossly underestimating what I did for karate (yes the MFP database was much closer on that one). It also gave me a pretty accurate measurement of what I'm burning on an average day with no workout (again what MFP set my BMR at was pretty much right on). Only thing is, I do take a betablocker, which is a medication that lowers my blood pressure and also my heart rate, especially during activity, so for the amount of effort I put into a workout, my heart rate won't get as high as someone else putting out the same effort, which is why it may be reading under what some of the data bases give (and, according to the MD, I'm probably burning up to 20% more than what it says I am). I'm just sticking to what the HRM tells me I'm burning.

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