| Re: How Accurate Are Those Monitors, Anyway?
Mike R. wrote:
> "Prisoner at War" <prisoner_at_war@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:1170349029.605054.235430@m58g2000cwm.googlegr oups.com:
>
>> For immediate release from Ye Olde Rambling Question Dep't.:
>>
>> I'm on some elliptical at the gym, have been doing it 40 minutes three
>> times a week, each session the machine read-out claims I've lost
>> ~850-900 calories (range due to variable intensity)...how accurate is
>> that? I find it hard that with 40 minutes of sweat I've burned that
>> many calories. It doesn't feel too hard, relatively speaking (though
>> I do Level 15 out of 20 available, with 20 as the hardest).
>>
>> There's also the heart rate monitor that has me at the upper celing of
>> my target heart range (which is supposed to be ~142-157 for a 35 y.o.)
>> for almost all 40 minutes, which I find incredible, too...I definitely
>> look like I'm fit -- Greco-Roman statue and all -- but it all feels
>> much easier than I'd expected (though there is surely a psychological
>> component involved, and I've learned fairly well to tune out
>> unpleasantries like fatigue, etc.), so I'm wondering whether such
>> devices are trustworthy...how are such numbers calculated, anyway? On
>> this elliptical, the target heart rate seems to come from sensors in
>> the handles....
>
> Don't rely on what your heart rate is supposed to be w/ regard to your
> age. Just because you are 35 doesn't mean your maximum heart rate is the
> same as the typical 35 y.o. I'm 40 and have at least a 205 bpm HR max.
> (as indicated in the final sprint of a 10K race in Nov.) which is 20 bpm
> higher than what I'm "supposed" to have. Find a means of testing your HR
> max. so that you can determine the appropriate target ranges for you.
>
> mike
>
>
Mike pretty well has the answer. If you are 35 and only working out to
the extent of 142-157 then you AREN'T trying hard enough. 165 is my
average rate sustained for about an hour at a time, and geesh, I know
people get tired of me saying it, but I'm 58 and 165 feels good. Sweaty
but good as in feeling alive. Don't believe what a generic machine says
or even the 225 minus age, or whatever you go by. Those are just
generalizations and probably the middle 50% of the bell curve. Mike is
40 and has a max of 205, me, 58 and about 185, both outside what the
books tell you.
Greco-Roman statue huh?
Snicker.
What's your middle name?
Narcissus?
Bill Baka
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