Strapless heart rate monitor suggestions needed

[Anvilbrother 0]

I am getting my fat ass into shape, and want a cool gadget to put on my arm. You read it earlier, I want a strapless heart rate monitor. From what I read most of them are not continuous, requiring you to put your fingers on electrodes every time you want to see your pulse......dumb I can do that myself. So are there any wrist worn monitors that are continuous and do not require a chest strap? Thanks ooh and in the interest of it all if you know a good STRAP type monitor, go a head and let me know as a back up plan. WOOT!

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[AggieDave 6]

Before her current "condition" my wife did 1/2 marathons and triathalons. Basically she's a badass.

Anyways, she didn't want a strap, so I got her one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Mio-Drive-Heart-Monitor-Watch/dp/B000VM4PA8/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1264815078&sr=8-10
She liked it

Then again, I bought her a Garmin. One of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Receiver-Heart-Monitor/dp/B000CSWCQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1264815167&sr=1-1

She hasn't used the strap-less monitor sense! And she uses the Garmin with her training on her bike (with the wireless cadence/bike computer add-on) and with her running training. She loves it.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[TrophyHusband 0]

why are you against the chest strap? just curious.

i have 2 hr monitors. my suunto came with one and my bike computer has one. they both work just fine, and the treadmill at the gym picks up the signal too. i can also connect my suunto to my computer, but i've never done it.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[TEB6363 0]

I use a pretty basic Polar Heart Rate Monitor for most of my workouts.. It helps a HUGE amount..

Starting out I was really concerned at how tired I got and how sore. Bought the Polar and started monitoring my treatmill/elliptical work. I was going WAY over Max heart rate with the exercise settings I "thought" would work.

I picked my heart rate for "calorie burn" based on age and gender then started exercising to keep in that zone... At first I thought the workout was too easy, then realized I gould exercise longer when I wasn't jut burning and going anerobic.

Yes, it is a chest strap, but the set was a very fair price and like mentioned, it works with the gym equipment... I like to set the heart rate program and speed, the treatmill adjusts the incline to keep my heart rate in the zone.

Once the plane takes off, you're gonna have to land - Might as well jump out!!

[tigra 0]

I used a Mio for about 2 years and I was happy with it over all. Yes, you need to check your heart rate by putting two fingers on it, but you don't need to stop or slow down to do that. And, you can check your heart rate whenever you want to - it doesn't need to be in "workout" mode. It was strapless, convenient and accurate enough for what I was using it for. Plus, I paid less than $40.00 for mine.

It died on me because I changed the battery myself and screwed up the waterproof seal. I liked it and would have bought another one, but I couldn't find the same model and what I did see in the stores and online cost about as much as a basic Polar. The Mio did a lot less than the Polar. Plus, the watch portion of my Polar actually looks like a ladies watch. Since I wear it everyday, that was important to me.

I bought the basic Polar and I would never go back. The chest strap never bothers me- except maybe when I first put it on after it has been sitting in a freezing cold car all day!

[Anvilbrother 0]

I have a 56 inch chest, and figured they did not come in such large of a size, so I was trying to avoid the strapless ones. The most important feature I wanted was continuous monitoring so it can track calorie loss and average rate. Polar seems like a good brand, and a few machines at the fire station have the polar wireless logo on them, so if I get the right model the elliptical and stationary bike will pick it up.

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[Heatmiser 0]

I don't know, but I think I'd be able to monitor my heart rate if I was looking at one of these

What you say is reflective of your knowledge...HOW ya say it is reflective of your experience. Airtwardo

Someone's going to be spanked! Hopefully, it will be me. Skymama

[tigra 0]

I am sure you can pick one up with a chest strap that fits and even if you can't, you could modify it. The strap itself is just a strip of elastic material that holds the monitor in place.

And it really is cool that the Polars can transmit directly to the treadmills and ellipticals.

[Southern_Man 0]

You should ignore the calorie burn number. It is based on some sort of set formula with no accounting for individual variation. You can get an estimate of that off of the web anyway that is just as good for anything you would want to use it for.

"What if there were no hypothetical questions?"

[tigra 0]

Quote

You should ignore the calorie burn number. It is based on some sort of set formula with no accounting for individual variation. You can get an estimate of that off of the web anyway that is just as good for anything you would want to use it for.

That's only partially true. You program your heart rate monitor with your own personal stats which automatically makes them more accurate than the monitors on the different cardio machines. They also keep track of the average heart rate, the highs and low and how long you sustain it. Of course nothing is 100% accurate and we all burn calories differently but its still a good tool.

The truth is, most of us think we are buring a lot more calories in a typical workout than we really are. The heart rate monitors give you a more realistic picture.

[Anvilbrother 0]

I ordered the polar f4 from amazon 69$ free shipping can't wait to get it and try it out!

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[SkyDekker 1,465]

90% of getting in shape happens in the kitchen, I would be much more concerned about proper diet than a HR monitor.

Websites like dailyburn.com, fitday.com and livestrong.com might be of much better use.

[Anvilbrother 0]

You are right I have a fit day accont and track my nutrition on my iPhone using app loseit!. I eat 1750 cal daily no more than 27g fat. I take mens one a day vitamins and the conjointen(sp) joint supplement. Also over 100 oz water daily limited caffine.

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[SkyDekker 1,465]

That's great!! Though 1750 calories sounds like very little for somebody with a 52 inch chest. If you don't feed your body enough, it will go into starvation mode and will start storing fat as much as possible.

I would strongly suggest seeing a nutritionist to work out a plan that works well for you.

(I eat 2000 cal a day 40% protein/40% carbs and 20% fat.)

[Anvilbrother 0]

That plan is from my nutritionist. I have lost 70 lbs doing this meal plan and exercising a few years back but gained most back after I stopped eating right. I know know the importance of making it a life long eating change not just a "diet"

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[tigra 0]

I lost almost 40 pounds a few years ago. I've lost weight before and always gained it back, usually with a few extra pounds tacked on. The only way I have kept the weight off this time is with regular exercise. Its not just about the weight though. I feel better and have more energy when I am working out regularly.

[Anvilbrother 0]

also got fitted for some proper running shoes, and bought a kona hoss mountian bike to hit the trails with. I'm so pumped hope I can keep this positive frame of mind

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[tigra 0]

I think decent fitting shoes is really important. Some of the other stuff might not be technically necessary but it can really help keep you motivated and focused. Good luck!

What is motiviting me now is the fact that I signed up for an 8K run that I feel really unprepared for. I've got less than 2 months to train, and its been a great incentive to find my way back to the gym this winter! Its not that I want to win the race, but I do want to finish without completely embarrassing myself!

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

You are right I have a fit day accont and track my nutrition on my iPhone using app loseit!. I eat 1750 cal daily no more than 27g fat. I take mens one a day vitamins and the conjointen(sp) joint supplement. Also over 100 oz water daily limited caffine.

Chondroitin.
(Often combined with glucosamine and/or MSM.)

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Anvilbrother 0]

Update on the monitor

This thing is GREAT. Every machine I have been on picks the signal up. For anyone thinking of getting one, it is to helpful in adjusting your workout intensity real time, and tracking your progress.

It tracks your hr, time in zone that you set, total work out time, calories burned(you enter your body stats), number of days worked out per week, and summaries of the past workouts. It even has an alarm if you don't work out for so many days it will beep your ass to the gym, don't need it I go 6 days a week

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[TEB6363 0]

That's the Polar F4 - Right??

When my very basic Polar is dead, I may look at that next

Once the plane takes off, you're gonna have to land - Might as well jump out!!

[Anvilbrother 0]

yes it was like 60$ on amazon for everything

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