I think** Backcountry Medic** has it, the program Timex uses just isn’t a good match for the particulars of the OP. That’s not to say that the unit sucks, it’s just hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all answer for such a personal measurement as calories expended.
Other than calibrating the unit against a lab quality (or close to it) test apparatus, maybe an e-mail to Timex might put the OP in touch with someone who programmed the HRM. Hell, there may even be a heart rate monitor specific forum somewhere out there that can give some insight into this.
Im sorry but I disagree. it is possible to do any individual workout to go that level, but if its done consistently as seems to be the case here its probably going higher than useful for best progress, particularly if the main aim is weight loss.
Running programs generally recommend most running to be done at a lower percentage than that.
Well, I’ll disagree right back at you. Did you see the post I made where I’m only ~185 bpm when I’m doing my running segments (and that’s if I’m particularly having a tough segment that day. Generally it’s around 180), but that I splice in walking segments, where my heart rate goes down?
I’m not working out for 20-30 minutes straight with my heart rate at 185. And like I’ve said, my working out heart rate has always been higher, anyway. Back when I used ellipticals, I’d sustain a heart rate of 170-174 for 25 minutes. I was completely able to talk to someone if I had to (or got to work out with a friend) at that rate. If my heart rate is below 160, it really doesn’t feel like I’m doing much. I won’t sweat much, I could belt out a Broadway show tune if I wanted, and when I’m done, I don’t feel all that much different than if I had spent my lunchtime sitting on my ass at my desk.
I’m re-doing* the couch to 5k because running, while tough, has been the only exercise I’ve done that really makes me feel like I’ve done a good workout, without feeling like I’m dying afterwards. I get the nice endorphin rush (which I have never ever gotten with ellipticals, stair climbers, rowing machines, etc.) and I’m able to build up my strength and endurance. As the weeks go by, I can do more running than walking and if I re-do a workout from a few weeks ago as a test, it’s not hard to do at all. I’d say I’m improving from week to week.
I stopped running for quite awhile, so I’m starting over from scratch.