Or maybe I should have titled this thread, "NOT Understanding my new heart rate monitor" lol
Quick background -- I've been exercising faithfully coming on 2 years and have lost close to 60 pounds, give or take, but the noticable change has been in my body shape and tone.
Spinning has been the cardio kick I have come to enjoy the most, and I weight train faithfully with a trainer. I just now bought a heart rate monitor and am actually kind of shocked at its readings. I almost don't want to believe what it is saying! btw - I got the Polar F11. It's a pricier model, so I can't imagine it is inaccurate?
What it is telling me is that when I spin, I am averaging at 85% of my max HR, and my calorie burn has varied between 700-950 calories for the almost hour. Does this AT ALL seem accurate??
And with interval weight training hard for an hour (and for an example, I would do 3 min. hard on the treadmill or elliptical, set of 20 ball squats/curls/shoulder presses with the 15s, 20 crunches, 20 push ups, then back on the treadmill for 3 min... three sets of all that total -- and my HR is up there to my max of 183ish. That's a hard workout and we'd do that for 3 sets, then superset other lifting for the rest of the time.. i'd burn 700 calories there...
So - -my question is -- if this in fact, is what I am burning, how in the world do those of you who have been successful losing, manage the calorie burn with the appropriate intake? I love to work out, but am questioning if I am working out TOO hard. The HRM tells me i'm averaging typically 85% of my max for entire workouts. Is this too much?? My trainer thinks it might be a bit high.
I guess my problem is that I am either eating too much, or not enough - and thereby being less productive. My weight hasn't budged in MONTHS, and while I am always feeling more "fit" and even a little more 'toned" every day -- I just want to see the pounds coming off.
I'm actually getting really discouraged, but if it were not for the *high* I have found my working out, I probably would have just plain stopped and gained all my weight back!
Any input is sooo appreciated!
thanks!