I'm so excited to have found an HRM that actually calculates the calories I burn when I'm training.

The on-line activity calculators are totally way off base and I know how important it is to stay within the 65 to 80% MHR zone. Although the "walk but don't sing" test is popular, I don't trust it. I need numbers.

I got the Polar F4 after reading countless reviews on a dozen or so monitors and I can't wait to start training with it.

Had to tell somebody who would understand how something like this could be so exciting... people around me just don't get it!

Heh, I have a Polar that doesn't calculate calories, but does the basics of monitoring heart rate and such. I bought it, then kept it in a box for like a year, I don't know, I was exercising just never thought to use it.

Then I dug it out one day and wow! Now I'm hooked. I don't wear it when I do my Dance Dance Revolution exercise but I tend to always wear it when walking or riding the exercise bike. I just find it really good for making sure I push myself hard enough, but not too hard.

So yeah, exciting! Enjoy!

I love my HRM ... I don't think I really understood intensity until I got one.

Congrats on the HRM! I have a Polar F6 and love it.

I'm curious - why do you think it's important to restrict your cardio to low-moderate intensity?

i own the polar f4 and love it!

I also have the Polar F4!

When I do my "big" workout, my goal is to mix cardio with weights, and to make sure I keep my heart rate up even when doing the weights part. When it gets low, I hop back on a cardio machine for 10 minutes or so, then go back to the weights. The Polar totally helps me monitor that.

Imagine how happy I was to see after an hour of this mixture, that I'd burned over 700 calories, and was at my goal heart-rate for 90% of that time!

I don't wear it every single time I work out, but I do enjoy it and it helps keep me on track.

I just LOVE the circuit training idea... I'm copying that! But yes... to see those numbers pop at you will really push me forward and then I'll have more accurate numbers to input into FitDay. As I said, on-line activity calculators are just lame! I mean... what the heck is "moderate speed"?

I was inspired by this thread to get my own HRM. I'm in love