HR Monitor Shocker!!!

I ordered a heart rate monitor and received it in the mail yesterday.  I used it this morning to keep track of one of my typical workouts, and I was shocked.  To make a long story short, I have been recording my workouts based on the tools they have here and have been overestimating by approx. 300 calories.  No wonder I was losing weight so slowly.  After I got over a bit of disappointment, I realized this is a good thing because it forces me to push myself while working out if i want to continue to eat at the same calorie level that I was. 

I don't know if it would be true for everyone, but this could be one reason that some of you are not losing at the rate you think you should be.

I am glad that I will finally know what my deficit is. 

What kind of HRM did you get?? Im interested in buying one but not sure which one to get.  I can't afford a really nice one.  Im on a budget.

 

 

Clarice

I got a polar F6.  i bought it on amazon, but it was still 100 dollars.  i am sure there are less expensive ones, but i read a lot about hr monitors, and found that that make/model seemed to be the most popular.

I just purchased a Polar F11 two days ago and absolutely love it!  It did cost about $160 but I think it is totally worth it.

I got a Nike Imara for women for about $89. There is a $59/model out but I can't remember what it was called. I think it's pretty basic--heart rate and calories, no intervals, stop watch features, etc. Mine is actually pretty much the basic model but it has a function to set intervals (2) if I want to try HIIT--haven't used that yet.

Everyone always recommends the Polar HR monitors, but don't people find it a major hassle that you can't change a dead battery in one by yourself?  It seems ridiculous to me that you have to send it back to the manufacturer just to change a battery.  I am considering getting one, but that fact alone makes me not want to get a Polar.

I have been considering getting one too -- but I just can't decide which one to get really.  I don't know what the major differences are between the F4/F6/F11...and I didn't know you can't change the battery yourself!

I would LOVE to know how many cals I'm burning in a workout though..I never know how to count it!

techdog:  When my battery ran out, I simply took it down to the jewelry store and they replaced the battery for me.....love my polar.

Go with Polar. They are the best. I've had about 5 or 6 models since the early 90s and they've always performed well. I've had others --- Timex, Nike, Reebok -- and they were mostly junk.

Some of the newer models have a battery you can change, but bettyboop is right, a watch place can change the battery in the receiver and the transmitters will go for years.

The Polar web site has a place where you can compare models.  They're not cheap, but there is no better way to monitor your exercise and not waste your time by not working hard enough (or working too hard) Heart rate monitoring is the best.

Get one of the Heart Zones books by Sally Edwards and see what a huge difference it makes.

 

 

Original Post by bettyboop71:

techdog: When my battery ran out, I simply took it down to the jewelry store and they replaced the battery for me.....love my polar.

And invalidated your warranty in the process.  I know that changing the battery isn't impossible in terms of the ability to do it, just that it invalidates your warranty if you don't let Polar do it for you.

Can someone explain to me exactly how these heart monitors tell you your calories burned - I mean, is there just a function you set that tells you throughout the day what is going on? My dad had a heart monitor and all it did was tell him how fast his heart was beating.

And invalidated your warranty in the process.  I know that changing the battery isn't impossible in terms of the ability to do it, just that it invalidates your warranty if you don't let Polar do it for you.

 Not true.  I just checked my warranty and any authorized dealer can change battery...including jewellers!

~H~

I bought a Used Polar F11 for 80 bucks on EBay.  It has some great features for everyone from beginners to hardcore, but it's pretty simple to use.  Some good stuff in there for helping guide you through effective workouts.  

Years ago I bought a Polar. I remember how much fun I had walking and prancing around the house just to see the heart rate change. Now, particularly after reading your posts, I want a new one!!!

Original Post by haley_2008:

Not true. I just checked my warranty and any authorized dealer can change battery...including jewellers!

~H~

According to the Polar web site, the only time you are allowed to take your Polar to a jeweler for battery change is if it is already out of warranty and you don't care about water resistance.  Otherwise, it has to be changed by an authorized Polar service center (which is not the same thing as an authorized dealer).

With normal use, the battery should last until the watch is out of warranty. I've never used mine in the pool, but I've had one of them for nearly 8 years and had the battery changed 3 times and haven't had any trouble with it.

You can send it back to Polar for "maintenance" they will replace the battery, clean, reseal, etc and also check the transmitter for under $30. I've done that on a couple of mine and, again, they've worked great.

There are some models you can change the battery on....again, use the tool on the web site.

 

Hi,

I used a timex for a long time and it was fine and then the heart monitoring part of started to funky - even thought I changed the battery, etc.

Now I bought a Garmin Forerunner 50 - yes it was $200.00 but it has a foot pod so I can log my miles more accurately (I trail run so it's hard..) and it calculates at splits if I want. I really like it and it dumps on my training info onto the computer via wireless USB stick. So I don't have to write anything down. 

I also know that essentially this is how the Nike Ipod + Nano works. 

I actually do watch what time of day I run affects my heart rate and when it is easier or harder. 

Anyways. I thought it was worth the money. 

my heart rate monitor (polar) actually shows more calories burned than the estimates given by CC.

Original Post by katann:

Can someone explain to me exactly how these heart monitors tell you your calories burned - I mean, is there just a function you set that tells you throughout the day what is going on? My dad had a heart monitor and all it did was tell him how fast his heart was beating.

 Katann,

I might be able to shed a little light on how HR monitors can help determine calories burned.  I have a Polar F11 (Love it!).  The F11 uses a chest strap which gives you a more accurate HR measurement then the wrist style alone.  With the F11 (and similar models of HR monitors) you have to enter your height, weight and age.  You then do a quick and easy test that measures your resting heart rate.  The monitor can then base your calories burned by taking your resting heart rate and comparing it to your heart rate while you're active.  That's where it's a little different then monitors that only measure heart rate.

I trust the calories burned number on my Polar much more then I do the CC numbers.  The CC numbers are based on my height, weight and age but don't know my resting heart rate.

My F11 truly is my little workout buddy.  If you've not visited their Web site to do some comparison shopping, it's worth the visit.

I hope this helps.