cheering you back onward.

If you want extra features Polar is the best. Garmin has some cool stuff too, they both have models that can graph your heart rate or map your route when connected to a computer. They will cost well over $500 for these cool features though. I want that stuff but cannot justify it for my workout, all I really need is some heart rate feedback on all sorts of days so I can learn the different feelings I get. I am still trying to figure out the details of why sometimes I feel like 162 is the same percieved effort as 170 on other days. It is also helpful when cross-training to tell how hard I am really working.

One cool thing about the strap is most treadmills and elipticals in the gym that have heart rate monitors pick them up so you get the bonus of not having to grab the handles to read HR.

The strap is wireless but it is just a burst that is measurable within about 3 feet. There are some mfg’s that have some id in the pulse as well to tell different ones apart, but unless you are lined up like sardines in a gym with other people it is probably not necesarry.

The strap has a battery in it like ones used in a garage door opener. The battery is used when there is resistance between the two sides of the chest strap. So make sure you don’t wrap the thing up in a sweaty shirt and stuff it in your gym bag when you are done or it will drain the battery. Also the one that comes with it has been in the package a while so buy a spare right away if you want to be sure it will work. They usually max out as the battery is dying and read something crazy high like 228 all too often. This is your cue to change it.

Hope this is helpful.

I actually am just embarrased to pull my shirt up and let my belly hang out cause that really would be a little easier…

The trouble is my own fault though, for some reason the strap can be looser when I run on the tredmill but needs to be tighter for on the road yet I forget. And then when putting it on in a hurry I always always forget to get it wet, which will fix itself with the sweat soon enough but then the average is off. I usually rememebr this oh about 12 seconds after we start running which if on my own I would just stop but in a group that is not an option.

The one I got was cheap but it works pretty darn good for what I needed, which is the number, the average, and cheap… They have a women’s version as well and I got mine for $59 at Sports Authority.

http://www.amazon.com/Nike-Triax-Heart-Rate-Monitor/dp/B000VNJW96

What type of heart rate monitor do you have? I hate my MioZone and think I don’t want to get the one you have either… running with one arm does not sound fun!

I found that CalorieKing.com has a good food/exercise tracking program which makes short work of tracking what I do every day, for what it’s worth. I like that it gives me a gut check on the other nutrition particulars (protein, calcium, etc) and a better idea of where my energy consumption is coming from than I’d be able to manage doing it myself in a spreadsheet (primarily because I’m too lazy to fill in anything besides calories without a food database backing me up).

In any case, glad to see that common sense weight loss / fitness is working for you, and best of luck in your training!