The gadget junkie -- heart rate monitor

OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

I dunno...
--
jmk in NC

"jmk" wrote in message
...
OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

Well, when you figure it out - after you get one, let us know how you like
it. I've been considering getting one for skiing. I have tachycardia, and
exertion gets my heart rate up pretty high. It would be nice to know where
I'm at while skiing, to know whether or not to stop... Do flashing lights
and sirens go off if you exceed a certain point? ;0)

det

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 12:59:44 -0500, jmk
wrote:

OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

I dunno...

I got one a few years ago and used to use it often but don't much
anymore. Most of the machines in our gym have the ability to sense
the heart rate that's transmitted by the monitor, so you don't have to
bother with looking at the watch. I think looking at the watch during
exercise might be sort of annoying.

What I liked the monitor for was doing certain kinds of training where
the metric I used was heart rate -- like trying to maintain it in a
particular range for some period of time, or doing intervals where I
timed the rest period by how long it took to drop back to a particular
level. I found this interesting and useful.

One reason I don't use it as much lately is that I found it sometimes
seeing might heart rate get a little higher than usual would increase
my level of perceived exertion -- and undesirable sort of biofeedback.
This was sort of counterproductive for my running program.

All this said, I'm thinking of starting to play with it some more.

Chris

I used to have a Polar - it was too much trouble after a while.
However, I love the pulse gadgets built into the treadmill and EFX
machines at my gym, LA Fitness. So, if I joined a new gym without
pulse readings I might again get a Polar. The MPH or RPM's on the
machines don't tell you how much you're doing. The calories/minute on
the EFX does (at my gym). THe MPH on a treadmill does.

jmk wrote in message ...
OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

I dunno...

Chris Braun wrote:
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 12:59:44 -0500, jmk
wrote:


OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

I dunno...


I got one a few years ago and used to use it often but don't much
anymore. Most of the machines in our gym have the ability to sense
the heart rate that's transmitted by the monitor, so you don't have to
bother with looking at the watch. I think looking at the watch during
exercise might be sort of annoying.

What I liked the monitor for was doing certain kinds of training where
the metric I used was heart rate -- like trying to maintain it in a
particular range for some period of time, or doing intervals where I
timed the rest period by how long it took to drop back to a particular
level. I found this interesting and useful.

One reason I don't use it as much lately is that I found it sometimes
seeing might heart rate get a little higher than usual would increase
my level of perceived exertion -- and undesirable sort of biofeedback.
This was sort of counterproductive for my running program.

All this said, I'm thinking of starting to play with it some more.

Chris

Thanks for this info!

--
jmk in NC

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 21:25:03 -0600, "Perple Gyrl"
wrote:

I would get one too, but I don't think the chest strap would
work under my bra and big boobs.

I don't know about this Life Wise model that you got, but that
wouldn't be an issue with the Polar monitor that I have. The strap is
very stretchy. I was able to use it just fine when I was a 44H. And
my husband has worn it and he has a much larger chest than I ever did.
The bra isn't particularly an issue. You just put the strap around
right under your breasts, tucked under the bra a bit so it's next to
the skin.

Chris

I got my husband one for Christmas and he used it for the first time last
night. It was the Life Wise (I think that is the one... it is the only
brand that they sell) one that is sold at Radio Shack for $50. It uses a
chest strap to monitor heart wirelessly to a watch on his wrist. He used it
on the treadmill (lifestep) and he didn't have to hold the handlebars to
keep up with the heart rate. It was displayed on the treadmill! I think it
is a great idea, as you can move arms more and not have to grip handles all
of the time. I would get one too, but I don't think the chest strap would
work under my bra and big boobs. BTW, it also measures calories burned and
works as a watch and stop watch. He loves it.

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net
http://community.webshots.com/user/perpleglow


"jmk" wrote in message
...
OK, I have another gadget question. Do we like heart rate monitors? I
have found them to be intreging for a while and it looks like the price
has really dropped recently. I was thinking a Polar A5 would be nice
but I'm not sure how useful they are. I do really well with biofeedback
type things and I thought that this would be a nice addition. I keep on
going back and forth on it and I was wondering what your thoughts are.

Pro: I do well with biofeedback devices. For example, if I get
distracted and notice that I am not going as fast as I think that I
should be on the bike (outside) or elliptical machine, I "kick it up a
notch."

Con: I can see the RPMs on the elliptical machine and MPH on the bike
already. Do I need another gadget for this?

Pro: The HRM will work on things that don't have biofeedback interfaces
(spin class)

I dunno...
--
jmk in NC

I am going to try his on to see if I can get it to work... if so, then I'll
get one too. Imagine his surprise when his heartrate was showing on the
treadmill and he didn't have to grip the handlebars!! It was too cool.
Here is the link for the monitor:

http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...uct%5Fid=63-15
20

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net

"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 21:25:03 -0600, "Perple Gyrl"
wrote:

I would get one too, but I don't think the chest strap would
work under my bra and big boobs.

I don't know about this Life Wise model that you got, but that
wouldn't be an issue with the Polar monitor that I have. The strap is
very stretchy. I was able to use it just fine when I was a 44H. And
my husband has worn it and he has a much larger chest than I ever did.
The bra isn't particularly an issue. You just put the strap around
right under your breasts, tucked under the bra a bit so it's next to
the skin.

Chris

On 12/29/2003 10:25 PM, Perple Gyrl wrote:
I would get one too, but I don't think the chest strap would
work under my bra and big boobs.

FWIW, they sell sports bras for this (I think that the strap fits
inside): http://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?SKU=14088

Thanks for the tip on the LifeWise models!

--
jmk in NC

Thanks for the tip... However, for me, sports bras aren't as supportive as
real bras.... and I wind up with one big uni-boob bouncing around while I am
on the elliptical (my sister made that term up).

--
Email me at:
perpleglow(AT)comcast.net

"jmk" wrote in message
...


On 12/29/2003 10:25 PM, Perple Gyrl wrote:
I would get one too, but I don't think the chest strap would
work under my bra and big boobs.

FWIW, they sell sports bras for this (I think that the strap fits
inside): http://www.performancebike.com/shop/....cfm?SKU=14088

Thanks for the tip on the LifeWise models!

--
jmk in NC