Who has a heart rate monitor?

I have one and love it. If it broke I would go right out and buy another one.
But I have never noticed anyone else wear one at my gym (and have only been asked about mine once). Do you have one? And if you do/don't what do you think about heartrate monitors?

Fri. Apr 11, 1:05am

Ahem...use the search function. Tons of existing feedback already available.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 1:22 AM

1:22 - Some of us are new on this forum & may want to discuss stuff that is old news to you. If you aren't interested in this thread, pass it by. Or, as my mother used to say, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

OP- I love my HR monitor. I use it when running (I am a newbie runner) to gauge how hard I am really working. I may feel a little winded & ready to walk, but a peek at the HR monitor may show that I could work harder. It helps me meet my daily exercise goals, ex:"I'll walk/run 90 minutes today, at least 45 minutes in my training zone". I also use it to keep an estimate of my "exercise calories" per week, like a diary.

I have ended up buying them for both my husband and daughter. She uses hers to train for marathons. ( I think he thinks it's a cool toy! And I guess he is right!)

Friday, April 11, 2008, 2:37 AM

do you need that belt aruond the ribs to monitor the heart or do they have ones that monitor from the pulse on your wrist? I definitely want to get once but hate the thought of that thing around my midsection.. any thoughts?

Friday, April 11, 2008, 6:59 AM

It really only takes 2 or 3 times to get used to the chest strap- I'm a guy, and thus never wear any constricting bands around my chest and after 2 times, I just stopped noticing the HRM.

the HRMs without chest straps have a little pad for you to press your thumb on to read your heart rat- not very practical while running, swimming or biking, and it doesn't give you complete information.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:22 AM

I was about to say....never wore anything constricting around your chest...gotta be a man :)

On a more serious note, I read an article in the New York Times the other day dismissing heart rate monitors because of various reasons. Here it is...I kind of agree that it can detract from working out because you focus on your heart rate instead of your body. And if the underlying science about heart rates is shaky, then I am going to listen to my body first.

Link

Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:34 AM

thank you 2:37...I am so sick of people saying to use the search function. Sometimes you just want to get some new opinions from new users...there are new users on this site everyday!

Friday, April 11, 2008, 10:35 AM

OP Here
I did use the search function and no I am not new to peertrainer I just wanted to know what everyone thought now, not 2 years ago.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 11:22 AM

Heartrate monitors haven't changed in 2 years. You'll notice there's nothing new here except an article that has more to do with heart rate training than monitors. I guess you just don't have anything better to do today. Nice.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 11:37 AM

Chest strap

2:37 here. The chest strap doesn't bother me when I am wearing one of my regular workout bras. But I do have one particular underwire bra (sometimes I just walk, in which case I don't necessarily change to a workout/running bra) that doesn't sit right with the chest strap underneath. I also hate anything which is constricting, and the strap is not that bad. You get used to it very quickly.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 8:02 PM

11:37 You should get some help re: your overt hostility. You sound like an unhappy person.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 8:36 PM

Yeah, thanks, I'll get right on that. It's like you really know me. What would I do without your amazing insight.

Friday, April 11, 2008, 9:52 PM

Seems like we have a real Scrooge in here...geez! Maybe you need some chocolate for real! LOL...get over yourself!

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 2:52 PM

I have the chest strap monitor, and It's not much tighter than my bra - I forget it's there almost immediately.

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 8:48 PM

I have (and had) two. Both of them have busted. I was teaching my spinning class and I looked down at mine to give the next instruction and it the screen was in another language. I am sick of replacing my HR watch. Do you think its me or another issue? I've only had the second one for a year.
PS- this is the first time I've come to this site. Is it always this way? It seems like some people get worked up about the craziest things. Go for a long run already. Geesh....

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 9:11 PM

Yes, it's always this way. Seach for "Sample Script" for a hysterical parody of the PT forum phenomenon.

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 10:02 PM

I can't believe that people come on a site that is totally based on peer support and are rude to others. If you're not interested in a post ( and there are always some posts that aren't applicable to an individual ) then just don't get involved. there really is no call for it. I'm new to PT and am really disappointed. Altough i am hopefully that you are in the minority behaving like this.

Sunday, April 13, 2008, 9:07 AM

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