Everyone needs a HRM..Why?

[wvjules]

I got the FT60 on Monday. I've worn it a whoppoing 4 times.

Monday: a jog followed by a walk - 416cal

Tuesday morning: 30 Day Shred - 167cal

Tuesday evening: jog followed by a walk - 303 calories

Wednesday evening: jog and a LONG walk - 640 caloires

So in three days I've burnt 1522 calories. Yay me! But last night something weird happened. I did my jog and my usual walk. Then I noticed I was close to the calories to earn the next AP so I walked past my house to get those extras. Then I got back home and I was 5 calories shy of the next AP. So I stood by my car and jogged in place and did jumping jacks until I reached the next AP. It's like a game. A good game! I had no idea that it would motivate me so much. My calorie burn target for this week is 2500 and I'm more than halfway there already. I LOVE this thing! I don't know how I lived without it.

So if you can afford one - get one! You will not regret it!

For non WWers., AP is activity points that you earn by doing exercises/activities.

 

[afnaechiquita]

I've wanted one but never understood the benefit - I didn't know they actually tell you how many calories you're burning. I thought it just, you know, monitored... your heart rate Sounds like it's working well for you!

ps - love seeing another mountaineer here

 

[bumbershoot]

That's really cool, how it's motivating you!

I'm also using it so I *know* the APs for WW. Did you know that some of them "talk" to some exercise machines? My FT7 communicates with the Precor ellipticals I use at the Y, and my HR shows up on their screen, just like it would if I were holding the "electrode" bars.

BUT the FT7 and the machine (even though I put in my age and weight to both) calculate the calories differently.

I nearly fainted when I saw that! The Precor is calculating WAY more calories burned than the FT7 is! I got all motivated, thinking I was going to hit the 7 AP mark (when dividing calories by 80), then looked at my monitor's info and I had barely hit 6!

Very different calculators in the machine; even though I thought I would get the same info out (since the same info was going in), I'm glad I wasn't "eating my APs" based on the elliptical's computer....


(now I have my monitor "watch" set to show me calories, not the time, while I'm using it)

 

[cewait]

Welcome to the world of guestimated science. Kcal burn estimation is a very individual effort and simply strapping on a HR monitor or entering weight and age into a machine may not be very accurate. There are tens if not hundreds of formulas to estimate Kcal burn and all will fall short if one does not understand the resting metabolic rate or their metabolic rates as measured while near anaerobic efforts. It's frustrating for many who just want to know what the Kcal output was associated with their effort. No device (HR monitor, body bug, etc) or machine is accurate for you as an individual - unless you are lucky enough to be normal as compared with what the machine is programmed to. My observations are than only 10-15% of the population are that lucky.

There are gyms and other locations who offer metabolic testing so you have some correlation to where you are at as compared with the device used to monitor your activity. Its about the best way to understand where you are with regard to actual Kcal burn.

What do you do if you are not near a place that measures metabolic rates - or you do not want to shell out the funds to find out? I would simply stick with one device and use it consistently. By doing that, you are measuring using the same variables. If as in the case of WW your find that you start to stagnate, change the AP point rate. I think I read some one was using 80.... Change then to 90 or 100. The net result is that you are not getting fewer AP for the same work. From a physiological standpoint, this is kind of real world as your Kcal burn rate will fall given the same effort as fitness increases.

 

[mrsdrake625]

Yup - I love my HRM. It really does encourage you to keep moving. You can see results as you go!

The other thing I love about it is that it tells me what types of cardio exercises give me more "bang for my buck." I used to try to make myself run, but I would start out way to fast and hard, and get very tired, sore, and discouraged. But I soon realized that walking burned a good amount of calories and if I walked fast enough, my HR wasn't too bad. So that's motivated me to get out the door more, and I've actually been more regular with my exercise, now that I know power walking actually does something for me as I build up to being able to run - slowly!

As far as accuracy, I input my data to the polarpersonaltrainer.com site, and even IT calculates my calories differently than my watch, and both have the same settings! (height, weight, gender, age). The machines I think are mostly calibrated for men, for whatever reason. I just go by the nearest 100 and I'm happy with that.

 

[keahgirl8]

I just ordered the FT4 yesterday. I am mainly getting it to make sure my heart rate is high enough, but not too high. I am really excited to try it out! Is there something wrong with me?

 

[John VN]

The HRM function of my 910XT Garmin is of the utmost importance in my training and during races, both foot pounding and wheel spinning. Calories not that important for me.