Heart Rate Monitor

I just ordered a Polar F4 Heart Rate Monitor and I was just wondering who has a Heart Rate Monitor and how they like it.

I have a Polar F6 and I lovelovelovelovelove it :D

I love my heart rate monitor too!!! One thing, since I joined Calorie Count, I don't use all the bells and whistles like I used to. Now, I just use it to see how long I stayed in my target heart range.

I guess my attitude has changed. Now, my goal is to eat right, watch my portions, and get outside and move everyday. I used to time all my exercising activities, as well as monitor my intensity levels. But I found I got discouraged, like I didn't measure up.

It's a good tool, let us know how it goes!!!

I use a Polar f55. It works great and does much more than I need. I especially like its compatibly with the exercise equipment at my gym.

I really like mine too (a Polar something or other...all I know is it's PINK!). I'm just barely starting to figure it all out, but I really like how easy it is to keep an eye on how hard I'm working.

I'm happy for you!

Ditto to what hk said.  I have no idea how I would survive without my F6, I'm way too analytical to go it alone.  :)

I've had a Fitsense FS1 for more than 2 years. I love it, but I don't think they make them anymore. I also bought the foot pod that measures distance, pace, and calories burned. I download all of my runs to the Fitsense website where it graphs my run.  It also keeps track of what kind of run I do, where I ran, how many miles I have on my shoes, etc, etc, etc. I've never tried a Polar, but they seem very popular. That's what I'll probably get when mine dies.

I have the Polar F11. I love it but there is just one thing I would like to share.  this really happend to me on a run. 

I was running beside one of the parks in Ottawa and a camera crew was shooting something in my direction.  All of a sudden my watch froze and I didn't know what to do.  I call Polar Customer Service hotline and they told me that while they were shooting, there was a magnetic field open and when I went through it it froze my watch.  They also told me how to reboot my watch.  Unfortunately, that had drained 25% of my battery and my heart rate, sometimes, doesn't get picked up by my watch.  This happend to me again later on in the summer but when I saw that I shield my watch with my hand and it was fine (I don't know if my hand did anything but it didn't freeze).

I have a polar f4 too and I love it.  I got it to make sure my heart rate wasn't getting too high, but I also like that it estimates my calories burned. 

My only complaint is that it's brand new and seems to need a new battery.  Sometimes when I press Start it freaks out and loses the date and other settings. 

I have a POlar F11 also and love it.  I also utilize their website to download my workout data so I can track my progress.  This Christmas I will probably upgrade again.  I started out 2 yrs ago with just a basic Polar that only gives the heart rate which I say for a beginner is a good start.

My only problem is the battery doesn't last more than a month or 2.- Granted I use it everyday sometimes 2 times a day and for at least an hour a day.  The chest battery has lasted sinice I first got it in December.

HRM are great. I use it to see if I am in target zone as I cant tell. means I get good effect without over doing it or often even feeling like I have done enough. its surprising and is motivating in that exercise can be quite easy, yet very effective. I use a cheapy because I can change the batteries. The polar are great but do way more than I need and they are a pain when the batteries need replacing. mine come from the surpermarket for $2. Go polar IF you need the functions.

I have a polar F6 and I just love it. Specially uploading my workouts to the computer and see my progress.

Okay, for those of you with Polar HRMs - what features do you definitely use, and which ones can you live without?  I really want to get one, just need to decide how many whistles and bells I need/want.

Well, I use, I think, all of it. I use the HRM to calculate the calories i actually burn when I exercise, and both the daily and weekly logs to compare and contrast between exercise sessions. I also love the Diary to keep tabs on how I'm doing this week and whether I'm burning "in my zone" or not.

Oh, I DON'T use the part that talks to the computer, though.

Okay, so for my next question - and HK, I think you answered this - how much do I lose not having the computer uplink, and can I get by without?  I'm a Mac girl, and Polar isn't Mac compatible, and a quick google search didn't turn up any good alternatives that are... 

I just got my Polar F4 HRM in the mail a few days ago and I used it to exercise at the gym yesterday. I did 15 minutes on the machines and 45 minutes on the treadmill at 3mph. The HRM said I burned 445 calories!!! I don't think this is accurate because on the website it said I burned 260 calories total and the treadmill said I burned 200 calories walking. I wish I would have burned 445 calories but I highly doubt it since it's 2 resources against 1. Does anybody know if it doesn't work or what couldbe wrong.

Thanks in advance.

Nani

I have a different brand monitor than you, but mine asked for my fitness level and age when I as setting it up. Check the documantation that came with your watch - maybe there is something like that for you to enter into the watch.

Other than  that, how go you like your HRM?

Actually lilbory, it is supposed to be a little more accurate because you program the watch for YOU. My F4 calculates my weight, height and heart rate into telling me how many calories I burned.  Most websites (including this one) tell you how much a person that weighs 150 or whatever burns doing an activity (who has a moderate to good physical activity rate).  If you weigh more, or aren't in great physical shape, taller etc., you will burn more or less calories.  I tested this theory out by changing my stats on the watch.  Taller, less heavy people burn less calories than short, heavier people (heavier people have more to move and require more effort to move it).  So it is possible that you did burn closer to 445 cal, not 260.  Just thought I would let you know what I learned.  I did extensive reseach before buying mine.  I had to save for 2 months to get one (even my cheap F4) I had to make sure that it would be worth it.

I am with potterhoney. I have a Polar f6 and use it on my treadmill. I had been exercising for a longtime before I bought it doing the same distance, incline and speed each day. Well I burn so many fewer calories than my HRM said. But my walk/run wasn't making me tired any more, I was hungry after exercise and I had stopped losing weight so I should have know I was not getting the calorie burn. Now I watch my heart rate and do intense bursts to keep my heart rate up. Some times I burn 200 calories more than my treadmill reads, sometimes the same, sometimes less. But now when the HRM reads 600 calories I feel it about 1 hour later I am hungry and I feel it in my body. Like when I first got into exercising. I think they are very accurate.

I had heard somewhere that the Polar's don't calculate calories burned for females as accurately as for male's - don't know why but I read it can be as much as 20% off.  I sometimes notice this too.  I can be working out like a fiend and it says I only burned 300 calories and other times I'll be leisuirly working out and for the same time gives me the same cals burned.  I still love my HRM and highly recommend one.

wow where you do get one of these?