Polar F11 for Dummies

August

August

Cathlete
...or just dummy. Which would be me. :-(

I take the tests once a week, but I've only been using manual because, well, I totally can't figure him out! He beeps at me, I ignore him, I finish my workout and I revel at how many calories I burned.

It's fun knowing how long I went and how many calories I burned off, but am I totally wasting this F11?

I know it makes "programs" on how long to work out and how hard, but how do you all incorporate that with your set rotations? Am I good just using manual? When it's on manual it seems to be keeping me in a 70-80% zone...

Argh. Any words of wisdom would be lovely. I've searched the threads but I'm still clueless.
 
August,

I used a similar device when I first started with Cathe several moons back...to be honest it was a waste of time for me. At first it was helpful to know "stuff", but now I know the symptoms of being out of my "zone" and the beeping drove me nuts. I found that tracking my weight and workouts with body fat % was very motivating for me. IMHO

Good luck to you; I am sure that someone here can help you more.
 
I have the F6 and I love it! You can turn the beeping off if you want.. I found it by accident, and could probably never find it again!
 
No, you're not a dummy. I had to turn off mine because my heart rate simply goes beyond the "range" for my age group. My HR has always been this way, doesn't matter if I'm doing cardio or lifting weights. I'm good just using it on manual. Since I don't have set rotations (I have a basic workout outline for the week and adjust according to time constraints and how I'm feeling) it works well for me this way.

Pinky
 
Thanks everyone for your replies.

I did watch the tutorials and found them helpful. Thank you.

I guess more specifically what I mean is...

I like to workout for an hour a day and set up a monthly rotation for myself. I do cardio one day, weights the next. if this is my situation, is just using plain ol' manual the way to go? If I use only manual, will it be keeping me in the 70-80% range all the time? Should I be shooting to get in a short 80-90% workout and a long 60-70% workout?

Does it even matter? LOL

I do love using the HRM, but I guess I feel like for all the moolah I put into buying it, I'm not really using it as it's intended to be used! :eek:

How do you F11 (or other ones) users use the thing with your rotations?
 
I have the F11. I always use manual. I don't pay attention to where it wants to keep me - I just go where I want. It used to beep at me when I went out of range. I just shut the beeper off. I use it as a check to see where I am, rather than rely on it to guide me.
 
I try to keep myself within the 60-70% range when lifting heavy, 70-80% range when doing endurance weights, and 80-90% when doing cardio/circuits. The keyword here is TRY. This is just a little guide I made for myself based on what I know about my body and how it responds to different kinds of workouts.

I'm not using the F11 the way it's intended to be used, but it has helped me a lot anyway. I'm not very particular about calories-from-fat percentage when I'm trying to bulk up, but I pay attention to it when I'm trying to lean out. I am particular about total calories when I'm bulking up because it means I'll have to replenish all that, and more. It all depends on what I'm trying to accomplish. I didn't adapt to the F11; I made it adapt to me. ;-)

Pinky
 
Oh good, so I'm not the only one using manual. LOL :D

It's still novel enough to me that I enjoy the beeping. But the "quiet" mode is certainly loud enough!

Thanks for everyone's advice, I really appreciate it.

And Pinky, those guidelines you set for yourself are intriguing. Just curious - I've read that when leaning out it's best to stay in a lower % range...I see you try to keep your cardio heart rate at the high range - you're saying that that's what you found to work best for you?
 
Yes, Angust. Odd, isn't it? Goes against what you'd normally read. As it has been said repeatedly around here, different bodies, different responses. There is no way I can keep my HR at a lower range during cardio or circuits. I would have to do Bootcamp and just about every cardio and circuit workout Cathe has in slow motion to keep my HR at the "ideal" fat-burning range.

Pinky
 
Different bodies, different responses, no kidding!

Thanks again for the advice. I'll use manual in good faith now LOL.

August

P.S. I just checked out your photos....you're gorgeous! (And your family photos are totally warm and nice to boot.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top