Educate me on Heart Rate Monitors

[Apoc]

I've been doing the gym thing for awhile now and after losing 30 lbs, I'd like to start getting more serious about the effectiveness of my time there. I've been using a hand-me-down bathroom scale and no real "work" monitoring, so maybe it's time to upgrade. Do these monitors really work? Are there any specific brands I should be looking at? Are chest straps really the only accurate technology out there? Are they worth the cost?

I was looking at this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monitor-Watch-Design/dp/B00136U9TW/">http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monit ... 00136U9TW/</a><!-- m -->

Comments appreciated.

[Ginger]

Do these monitors really work?

Yes.

Are there any specific brands I should be looking at?

Polar is a great fool-proof brand. There are a few other options out there, which I'm not up to date with... but you can't go wrong with Polar.

Are chest straps really the only accurate technology out there? Are they worth the cost?

Pretty much. Chest strap monitors can be had for little expense these days, but you can tack on lots of features: logging, audible warnings for zone training, wireless (etc) connectivity to your computer, GPS (no, I'm not kidding). The important thing is to get the features that you want/think would benefit you.

I was looking at this: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monitor-Watch-Design/dp/B00136U9TW/">http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monit ... 00136U9TW/</a><!-- m -->

That's a nice, basic model. I wouldn't bother wth the calorie counter, since I don't really think it's a good training tool (more of a novelty)... but it's built into most models, anyway.

You may want to try out a monitor before you buy one. A lot of people get them to accomplish things that they could do just as well with the Borg exertion scale... there are plenty of very succesful professional athletes that have foregone digital analytic tools, just, you know, as an anecdote.

I hate them... that's why I'm not up to date Lots of things can influence your heart rate that won't necessarily give you the best picture of your workout (amount of rest, caffeine intake, stress, etc. Hell, even the strap annoys the crap out of me.

[Andy]

I love having little gadgets to help me stay motivated. I'm using the Nike+ system to log mileage so I can keep up with running.

Congrats on the weight lost. 30 lbs is an insane amount to lose. Can we get an all nude before/after pic?

[Mike]

+1 to everything andrew said, but i must reiterate how much i hate them.

[Apoc]

Can we get an all nude before/after pic?

With 30 less pounds, my junk looks even more massive... I wouldn't want to embarrass you. In all honesty, I wish I took a before pic without a shirt as I think I've lost a lot more fat than 30 lbs. Since I do mostly StairMaster and bike, my lower half is pretty much solid and I think that amount of muscle weighs a good bit.

How are people's experiences with those body fat bathroom scales? I realize they're not going to be super accurate, but the scale doesn't move as much as it used to and it feels like I'm still getting somewhere. I'd like to measure that if I could.

Here's a pic I put together today...

[Mike]

as jeff (not mm jeff) said: probably good for directional data, but not absolute values... f'ing trending toolbags.

[Apoc]

as jeff (not mm jeff) said: probably good for directional data, but not absolute values... f'ing trending toolbags.

I think that's all I care about. All I know is the scale hasn't really moved much in the last month and while it's possible I've plateaued, I can't imagine that's the case when I'm in the gym 3x/week. I've tried switching things up and the number doesn't really move so me thinks (hopes?) it's a shell game with fat/muscle.

[Mike]

you can plateau pretty easily if you're not changing up your routine.

[Apoc]

i must reiterate how much i hate them.

Why? Is it the annoying chest strap you have to wear with them?

[navin]

Try p90x y0! sorry, the picture you posted looks like one of their before/after ads, haha..

I'm thinking Crossfit might be a good routine to look into, but Paul is someone that knows more about that.

[Steve85]

Nice Job on the 30 lbs. I'm down 18 with diet changes and very erratic exercise. Just 50 to go.

I have the Polar you are looking at (older design). It's easy to use and I forget about the chest strap after a couple minutes. I don't find it uncomfortable or bothersome. Also, it is compatible with most of the cardio machines in our gym. (Star-Trac)

Are you working with a trainer or is there one you can talk to at the gym about how to use it effectively? My trainer talked about different heart ranges for fat-burning and all-out cardio...

We have a tavita scale that has the BMI calculator and like said before it seems to work for overall trend but is susceptible to hydration levels. It was within 2 points of the analysis I had done at the gym where they measured everything with the fat grabber pincher thingy. As I have gained and lost weight over the years, it has been reflected in the BMI number. It seems to have known I was getting fat, not strong.

Good luck, I'm on the same plateau and it is frustrating as hell.

[Apoc]

Are you working with a trainer or is there one you can talk to at the gym about how to use it effectively? My trainer talked about different heart ranges for fat-burning and all-out cardio...

Good luck, I'm on the same plateau and it is frustrating as hell.

I'm not. Pretty much everything is based on my own reading. We have a trainer at the gym (it's at my work) but you basically have to pay for counseling and I don't want to do that.

I've been through 3 plateaus and I'm probably on my 4th as I seem to hit one every 7-8 lbs. I'm working hard and spend most of my time in the high intensity zone, but I want to know my resting heart rate and make sure I'm in my target zones. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to change something, but I'd like to pick and choose the things that work best for me in that change. I'm a data freak so I figure a HRM can't hurt.

I ended up ordering the F11: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monitor-Pepper-Design/dp/B00137UKT0/">http://www.amazon.com/Polar-Heart-Monit ... 00137UKT0/</a><!-- m -->

This excerpt below is kinda what swayed me. It may very well be overkill and/or somewhat useless, but I haven't bought myself anything in a long time so I thought I'd give it a try. Even if it only succeeds as motivating me because I want to play around with it, it's probably worth it.

The F-11 has won Polar a number of awards for innovation. The reason is the "Keep U Fit" program. With this program you input your stats, take a fitness test (which is basically a timed measure of your resting heart rate) and the F-ll will tell you how fit you are. Next you tell the F-11 if you want to improve, maintain or maximize your fitness level. The F-11 then creates a weekly fitness plan for you. It tells you how many hours you should exercise, and how long you should be at each of your heart rate intensity levels.

[Andy]

Talk to your health insurance see if they cover or offer baseline physicals and counseling. We currently have Kaiser-Norcal and as much as they suck, they offer a lot of preventative medicine type courses.

[Evan]

the body fat scales are a joke. I bought a fairly decent one, and it is inconsistent enough to make it worthless. it can swing 5%-7% back to back.

[stevegula]

you can plateau pretty easily if you're not changing up your routine.

+1 on that.

I went from ~240 to 190 the last two years of college... dealing with the plateau was the hardest bit.

Congrats on the 30lb drop.

[Steve85]

Have you taken a look at this?
http://www.bodybugg.com/index.php

I don't know that it would be any better then what you're getting but it seems to take the HRM concept a step further...