HRM Questions/Observations 1st Time

Netta

Netta

Cathlete
Good morning, looking for some help from those who have HRM's.

Received my new Polar M32 HRM yesterday in the mail so of course, I was excited to try it out. The rotation called for Body Max today, which I subbed with The Gauntlet.

Before starting the workout, I set my HRM for Ownzone and did the little test that determines your limits. Mine is 147 as high and 112 as low. I realize this is a circuit workout so my heart rate would drop below my zone for some of the weight sections. During the cardio sections, I never got above 143 and that was during plyos in the Bootcamp sections and the fast foot repeaters of Imax2. Actually my average for the workout was 118 and In the Zone for only 30 minutes, with a calorie burn of 202. Hmmm. One thing that kept happening was my heart rate wouldn't register at times during the weight work, it would just go to zero. I would fiddle with the strap and then it would start working again. Maybe I need to tighten the strap or wet the transmitter some more with gel? Where do you wear the strap? Under your breasts I assumed, but the transmitter doesn't necessarily always lay flat against my skin there. Also, at times the heart rate would show a steady number for a while and then jump up 20 beats. Does it sound like it's not registering right?

Also, dumb question, if I go above 147, does that mean I am going anaerobic?

I ordered and received Spinervals "Enter The Red Zone". Our own Brenda Frambes from the Cathe crew is in that one and during the workout, her heart rate gets up to 190 something! I can't even imagine as I feel I'm really pushing during the mid 140's. It'll be interesting to see where my heart rate is during the 100% perceived exertion efforts. I did this workout the other day (without the HRM) and when I pushed 100%, my legs would get the lactic burn.

Hopefully, someone can answer these questions. Thanks so much in advance, you ladies are pretty darned smart (and generous).

Jeanette
 
Hi Jeanette,

HR monitors are like computers and use the information we provide them to generate the information we want in return. Did you put in the date, time, your age, height, weight and resting hr? Sometimes the HR watch goes to zeros if there is too much electrostatic activity around. I can't use mine at the rec center, it won't register due to all the tv's around. I wear the strap just underneath the breasts, covered with my jog bra to keep it in place. You are still burning calories if you go above your target hr zone. Yes you are now in your anaerobic phase, but that is okay. I think you need to verify the information you put in is correct and keep using the monitor. You will become more familiar with it and it is a great tool. 202 calories seems very low for the Gauntlet. I usually burn close to 500 calories with this workout, again it is based on my ht, wt, age, resting hr etc.

Good Luck,

Diana
 
Hi Diana,
It did ask for age (47), weight (120), and gender (female). That was all that I had to input. Nowhere did it ask for my resting heart rate. I checked my resting heart rate this morning (before any coffee) and it was at the lowest 51. Would this have anything to do with why my heart rate doesn't get as high as others doing the same workout? I mean, I really had to put a lot of effort into getting it to go into the 130's! Guess I'm just surprised by it staying so low.

I'm wondering if the low calorie burn was because of the times that he HRM registered "0". And yes, I kept my strap below my breasts. Do you have to have the strap moist or just the transmitter (the plastic thing on the front that says Polar)? Just wondering why I couldn't keep the heart rate going and why it would stay stuck on a number for a while and then jump up about 15 or 20 beats all at once.

Any more ideas?

Jeanette
 
Hi Jeanette,

It does sound like it was losing it's connection at times. I put the chest strap on dry. Once I have my watch on and turn it on to start recording. If it my hr doesn't show up on the watch (it almost always does) then I will dampen the transmitter. I've probably only had to do that 3 or 4 times in the nearly 2 years I've had my hr monitor. I have a polar a5 and it doesn't jump more than a couple beats at a time, unless I'm doing an interval of course. There are intervals in the Gauntlet. I suggest you just keep using it and re-read the manual. I had to do this a lot before I became comfortable with my hr monitor and felt the results it gave me were accurate.

Diana
 
I've gone through 3 polars over the last 15 years. No, its not normal for the heart rate to jump around suddenly by 2o beats, or go to 0, it means you're not transmitting right or maybe you have a defective transmitter/reicever. I've never had interference from the TV or stereo myself, at least with the old ones. I notice your model, the M32, is one of the new fabric chest straps with a special non-interference code transmitting system. I wonder if the new bells and whistles aren't working real good? I like the old-fashioned plastic strap becuase it sticks really tight to me and never slips. You just use water to moisten it, not gel. I wear it very tight just under the breasts.
The polar web site has all kinds of calculators-look on the left column and click on "fitness test programs" and "aerobic programs". It will tell you everything about anaerobic training levels-there are 3 different levels of anaerobic used in different types of interval training. Here's the website:
http://www.polar-usa.us/index.html
I did find this on the polar website for customer service, you should contact them:
Polar Electro Inc.
1111 Marcus Ave., Suite M15
Lake Success, NY 11042-1034
Phone: 800-227-1314
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: M-F 9am to 5pm EST
Beth
 
Hi Beth,
Thanks for the info. I will use the HRM some more, maybe tighten it some and see if I still have these problems. If I still do, I will contact them.

I'm going to check out your link to the anaerobic training levels too. Thanks so much.

Jeanette
 
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