HRM accuracy

Hello,

I was at the gym the other day and was using a HRM that I bought from Walmart (the most expensive one they had which was around $50).  I was wondering if it is accurate?  I worked out for an hour, did about 30 min of cardio and some light lifting, and it said i burn around 537 calories.  I was wondering if this would be more accurate than the machines calorie counter? Any comments would be helpful... i been trying cc for about 3  weeks or so and haven't been very successful! help!!!

Well it depends on what information the HRM has you plug in  Age, Weight sex height are important variables that are necessary to calculate a calorie burn.  If it doesn't ask for this information then its not going to be very accurate.  MAchines are never even close unless you are male 5'7" and 175lbs as this is the "standard" machines go by if it also is not programmable with your specifics.

Also does the HRM have a chest strap so its doing constant monitoring of your heart rate?  If its one that you put your finger on every so often then its burn calculations aren't going to be close either.

I am 49 5'7" and 181 lbs and I worked out today doing heavy lifting and 15 minutes cardio and burned 550 calories - When I lift my heart rate gets going pretty hard more than walking on the treadmill at 4 mph in fact.  If you are just doing light lifting then your pule probably isn't going to do that.  

Yes it asks for all those things, it does have a chest strap that i use so i guess it might be close cause i'm 23 5'4 and 181 lbs... when i work out my heart rate stays near 185 or so if i stay moving