Heart Rate Monitors and Calorie Expenditure

[CathydsRNA]

I am perplexed. There was a discussion on the boards recently regarding numbers of calories burned/workout based on heartrate monitor output. Numbers posted varied widely. I tested three heart rate monitors (Radioshack and PolarM32 and 62). In the Radioshack and M62 where you can enter activity level (Radioshack and M62) ie. how fit are you, I get a significantly lower calorie burn than what is displayed on the M32 even though the heart rate is the same on all threefor a particular workout. Calorie burned estimated on the Radioshack and M62 was about155 for a workout but the M32 said 250. Can anyone explain this especially considering my heart rate is the same on all monitors. Thanks

 

[jtlane25]

I have a Polar and it has you program your height, weight, age, and keeps up w/ your heartrate while working out. After your workout it gives a completed calorie burn for however long you have had the timer running. It's pretty accurate. I cannot remember the actual model. But, I do love mine!

 

[jtlane25]

I'm sorry...it's a Polar A5.