zenpharaohs
August 26th, 2007, 11:37 PM
Sometimes people want to know how to get accurate Calorie counts for exercise. The most convenient way is to use a heart rate monitor which can count Calories. But in order for those counts to come out accurate, you have to make sure the monitor uses a good estimate of your VO2max. The most convenient estimate of VO2max is from Polar's "Ownindex" fitness test, where you lie down and the monitor checks your resting heart beats for a few minutes. But is that test any good? From time to time I use another method to check; typically I used to use a running test like the Cooper or Balke test. Those are kind of tough to do.
Today I checked my VO2max the Queens College Step Test (http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijba/vol1n1/vo2max.xml), and that came out 46.65.
Earlier today, I did the Polar fitness test, which came out as 46. Yet again the Polar Ownindex comes out as reliable for me.
Both of these are slightly low readings to what I would estimate my current VO2max as; I think it's effectively around 49, but I don't get more than a day or two from a heavy workout these days, so it tests slightly low. It's still within 5% of where I think it should be, which is plenty accurate enough for Calorie counts.
So yes, Virginia, you can get accurate exercise Calorie counts.
Today I checked my VO2max the Queens College Step Test (http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijba/vol1n1/vo2max.xml), and that came out 46.65.
Earlier today, I did the Polar fitness test, which came out as 46. Yet again the Polar Ownindex comes out as reliable for me.
Both of these are slightly low readings to what I would estimate my current VO2max as; I think it's effectively around 49, but I don't get more than a day or two from a heavy workout these days, so it tests slightly low. It's still within 5% of where I think it should be, which is plenty accurate enough for Calorie counts.
So yes, Virginia, you can get accurate exercise Calorie counts.