Heart Rate Monotor and Calorie Burning

Where is a good place to pick up a heart rate monotor and how do they work?  Also, how do you calculate how many calories you are REALLY burning with one?  Thanks!

I don't have one but am in the market.  Here's what I've learned.

The Polar brand is the defacto standard and the chest strap works with most gym equipment.  The downfalls are price and from what I've learned, no user replaceable battery.

I like the Timex versions available at target.  Still uses the chest strap but the price is $40 for a cheap one that will get the job done or $70 for a nicer one with target alarms.

I have the Polar F4 and I love it and it comes with a lifetime guarantee..Once you enter all your vital information, it automatically calculates heartrate zones and shows the calorie burn without having to touch it again...I use it everyday, whether at the gym, mowing/working in the yard, walking the beach, or swimming...I paid around $80 for it and I think it's well worth it.

i recently got a low-price HRM (oregon scientific) and it works pretty well.  i like it, but if i were to do it again, i might go with one of the polar or higher-end brands for the simple reason that they're coded.

all this means is that there's a code between YOUR chest strap and YOUR watch/monitor so that other things don't interfere.  with mine, certain stop lights and other electronics mess with the readout (it'll suddenly jump to 202 bpm as i pass a police car or a hospital or a transformer).  it's not a big deal as it also has an 'average' feature and since these are momentary jumps or dips they get worked out at the end so that i get a fairly accurate reading. 

i guess, in short, if you don't mind the blips go with the less expensive ones.  i like that i have one regardless, and i'm not annoyed enough to go spend money on a better one.  but once this one dies i'll probably go for the coded ones.

If you want a Polar... Get on ebay!! I've just been looking for one myself... like everything, it's much cheaper on the bay...

Hi,

I have a polar F4 bought from target, i've had it for about 3 months and use it all the time, i go to the gym often and used to go by the readouts on the machines, but when i got my F4, the reading were off -way off- infact i was burning less cals than they read. I've now adjusted to this fact and run 6 miles every other day and i burn 550-650 cals in 55-60 mins. But it's more about targets, i know when to speed up when my hr goes down and when to slow down when it gets above my max target hr. I'm in my target zone for about 50 mins

It's also gr8 for workouts at home such as pilates or SI6. that tells me i burn 420cals in 60 mins at home doing Burn It Up!

check overstock.com, they have polars for like 20$.  I am actually going to start using mine again (I stopped for awhile) The reason they are so popular with atheletes is once you calculate your maximum heartrate, you can use them to identify the Zone your body is in which maximizes your training. 

(1) Heart Healthy- 50-60% of max heart rate (burn fat and calories and improve heart health)

(2) Temperate zone- 60-70% of max (raise fitness by increasing muscle and aerobic capacity)

(3) Aerobic Zone - 70-80% of max (works aerobic system (ability of body to use oxygen)

(4)Threshold Zone - 80-90% (body goes anerobic and improves speed and endurance)

(5) Red Line 90+ % overworking heart (Avoid)

You can program your polar watch to either show your heart rate for a particular zone or go through a series of zones.  The best method is to spend a little time in all of them.  The reason i like using the monitor is that I can tell if I am either not working hard enough, and therefore need to speed up, or im working too hard and i can slow down.  You can also observe you progress overtime because your max heart rate, threshold point, etc. will increase as you get more fit.

For example the low end of the heart rate above your resting heart rate is called heart healthy and is where you burn fat and improve cardio health.  The next level you burn more fat.  the next you dont burn as much fat but you are maximizing aerobic activity, the next is the anerobic where you build endurance but tend not to burn much fat, and the highest is your max which isnt very safe to be it.  The best workout would bring you into all the different areas.  I set mine so it beeps if i go out of the heart rate range im trying to work on (either to high or to low.

I have a polar F11 and have used it for at least 18 months now every day.  The batteries are replaceable you don't have to send them to the factory to replace.  I take mine to a jewlers who usually doesn't even charge me for the battery.  The chest strap may need to be replaced before the battery for it though.  I just use my old strap I had from a basic polar model.  It doesn't have a battery at all.  The watch battery can also be replaced by a jewler or you can do it yourself.  Sure they want you to send it them to replace so they charge you $$ but it can be done yourself.

I also have the Polar F11...I would NOT consider anything else! I cannot imagine working out without it.

Yes, they are certainly pricey. You get what you pay for and you will NOT be disappointed in any way. It's really made exercise more fun for me. Knowing exactly how many calories I've burned for all of my hard work is very fulfilling!

Spring for it...you'll be glad you did!

All my clients have the polar F11.  I highly recommend this watch.  Take the fit test in the morning to determine your VO2 uptake so that it knows you.  Cool thing about the watch is that it monitors your exercise ability and adjusts your target heart rate zones as you improve.  Spend the money and do it right.  These are a great way to see how hard you're actually working versus what you perceive as hard work.