Holy acronyms, how are we suppose to keep all this stuff straight?
Ya’ll know I’ve been talking about whether or not I needed to get me a HRM (heart rate monitor). Since at least
June 2009 I’ve been asking for your opinions, thoughts, advice and whatever else you want to throw my way.
I have been hesitant to get one for multiple reasons:
#1. Cost: Would it be something that I would actually use or just another “gadget” I would spend money on only to soon enough toss in the gadget box in the back corner of my closet.
#2. Obsession: Given my easily carried away tendencies, would I become fixed to this gadget like it was my lifeline?
#3. Change agent: Would seeing what I saw actually make me change anything? If it said I wasn’t eating enough calories compared to what I was burning, would I eat more? And on the flip side, if I was eating just as much as I was burning, would I work to create more of a deficit? Is there a deficit needed?
Back in June, when I asked for your advice on if I needed a HRM and other HRM thoughts, here is what some of you said:
“I think you should get a HRM that measures your HR/calories during exercise only. It helps you stay in your target heart zone and make sure you are working at the best intensity for you.
“I only wear my HRM when I work out. I am on WW so knowing how many calories I burn tells me how many activity points I have earned. If I burn 300 calories I dont worry about eating them. But when I burn 1200 calories during 1 workout I make it a point to eat those activity points bc I know my body needs the fuel!”
“I LOVE my HRM. I don’t dictate my food intake based on the calories burned (maybe I should) but I love the instant gratification of knowing what I’ve accomplished in my work-out.”
Well…as you guessed it, I finally got one. A
Polar Heart Rate Monitor. When it arrived it the mail, I ripped it open and started pushing buttons like a little kid on Christmas morning. I strapped the belt thingie around my chest and thought I was the coolest kid this side of the Mississippi. It took about ah, 30 seconds to figure out how to turn it on. When it got up and on, it ran me through a fitness type thing.
And for ONE day, I wore it while I worked out. I ran about 30 minutes and burned 300 calories. And then…I decided I wanted to see how many calories my body burns in a typical day. So the next day, I woke up, took a shower, and strapped that baby on. Here are a couple of stats:
Keep in mind the calories burned estimate does not include 8-10 hours of sleep.
Wednesday, April 14
(30 min stairmaster
+ 20 mn weights) |
HRM on: 7:30am |
HRM off: 9:30pm |
Calories burned: 1724 |
Ate: 1520 |
Monday, April 19
(25 min cardio) |
HRM on: 7:40am |
HRM off: 10:00pm |
Calories Burned: 1958 |
Ate: 1430 |
Tuesday, April 20
(99 min stairmaster) |
HRM on: 7:00am |
HRM off: 10:00pm |
Calories Burned: 2515 |
Ate: 1570 |
Thursday, April 22
(no workout) |
HRM on: 7:15am |
HRM off: 11:26pm |
Calories Burned: 1544 |
Ate: 2815*
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*Calories eaten on Thursday, April 22 include 800 calorie 2pm binge + 1000 calorie dinner. That’s another blog post in itself. For now, just recording the facts and trying to analyze what the numbers mean.
Thoughts:
- Since about the same time I got the Polar T60, I also got my new food journal. In the past week, I’ve been pretty good about recording. One thing I’ve learned about recording eating is that you are more conscious of eating. So while the above chart includes a few samples, I chose the days I ate “normal” and not the 2 days I binged on food.
- I consider potentially wearing the HRM for a full 24 hour period to truly understand, sleep and all, how many calories I burn. A test day w/ a “typical” 30 minute workout and a test day with no workout.
- I’m surprised by my calories burned # – it is way lower then I thought. I gave myself credit for “naturally” burning way more than what the HRM racks up without working out.
Questions:
- How do you change your actions based on what the HRM tells you?
- Do you wear your HRM more then when you work out? If so, why? & how to do you use the data you get? If not, why not?
- Do you have hesitation in getting a HRM? If so, why?
Special thanks to Polar for providing me with a Polar HRM to test, trial and decide if it is right for me and my healthiness journey.
AND…before I open up the discussion
to the comments, please remember two things:
1.Comments are open to whatever you have to say but remember feedback is more positively received if you help me realize a better way of doing things instead of just saying I’m doing it wrong. (Can’t we all just be adults? Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw the first stone.)
2. BIG BIG news today this afternoon. Check back 
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hey Jen, I’m a new reader (and also a priorfatgirl) and I was wondering why youended up getting the Ft60 over the Ft4? I’ve been using a Plolar F11 for about five years and am looking to update to one of the newer models but can’t decide. Thanks for your thoughts!
Jess