Polar V800

[Mats]

I had some problems syncing again this week.

 

I firstly synced via the Iphone app.

It then appears as if all the data were transferred as everything showed up on the App.

However in Flow only distance and time appeared.

I then synced with the cable but with no luck.

 

So to fix I had to go in flow and re-save my Setting.

Then synced again via the app and BOOM. Everything was there.

The sync took a bit of time, but it worked.

[Spinnekop]

Ok so I have a question, maybe one of you clever okes (or ladies for that matter) can assist me.  I will be sending the question on to Polar as well but lets see...

Ok so I have used the Karvonen method to calculate my HR Zones as stipulated in the table below.

 

Image 1 (since the paste from word function works about as well as an underwater dartboard)

 

I then set my Strength training sport profile on flow.polar.com as per the calculations.

 

I also set my Heart rate to be displayed as % of HRMax as that would assist me in being in the correct zones for specific purposes all the time without having to remember lower and upper limits.

 

However since 60% of HRMax is not the same as 60% as per the Karvonen method as illustrated below

 

Image 2

 

SO here is my question:

 

Does Polar use the % of HRMax as a base for their calculations for fat burn % of Calories or do they use my input values for the different HR levels?

Get to know your HR and not the %.

Don't be lazy. 

 

Select the "middle" of each zone and start remembering it.

 

In the long run it will help you A LOT! 

[Izak]

Get to know your HR and not the %.

Don't be lazy. 

 

Select the "middle" of each zone and start remembering it.

 

In the long run it will help you A LOT! 

 

 

Hehee actually I do know these by heart (no pun intended).

 

It's actually more of a functionality review thing for me as It should really work on what ever inputs you have made as none of us are exactly the same.

 

Just makes sense to me that their top of the range watch should not work on a 'generic' (% of max) value rather than accurate values ... 

 

Don't you agree?

[SwissVan]

 

 

SO here is my question:

 

Does Polar use the % of HRMax as a base for their calculations for fat burn % of Calories or do they use my input values for the different HR levels?

 

Ja nee I know exactly what you mean, I had a similar question bouncing between brain cells a few weeks ago when I changed my heart rate zones from the polar default zones to a different zone system.

 

The answer to my question I found in the sport profile heart rate section where you edit your stuff and I suspect the same would apply to your questions (see screen shot below), BUT as its polar it would be best to get confirmation from them direct.

 

 

[Izak]

Ja nee I know exactly what you mean, I had a similar question bouncing between brain cells a few weeks ago when I changed my heart rate zones from the polar default zones to a different zone system.

 

The answer to my question I found in the sport profile heart rate section where you edit your stuff and I suspect the same would apply to your questions (see screen shot below), BUT as its polar it would be best to get confirmation from them direct.

 

 

2015-03-13_0902.png

 

 

Ja thats what they say but the question actually came up since I had the zone pointer and the % of MAXHR indicated on one screen and also could see my heart rate on the WattBike screen it did not match.

 

For instance I wanted to train between 60-70% and especially towards the higher end of the range.

But when I was, according to what I know about my personalised settings and the HR indicated on the bike, within the 60-70% range I was already well over that according to the watch's % of MAXHR indicated and the zone was also incorrect.

 

So therefore I am assuming that the calorie and % fat burn of Cal calculations were also incorrect.

I have mailed Polar support so lets see what they come up with.

[Izak]

Ja thats what they say but the question actually came up since I had the zone pointer and the % of MAXHR indicated on one screen and also could see my heart rate on the WattBike screen it did not match.

 

For instance I wanted to train between 60-70% and especially towards the higher end of the range.

But when I was, according to what I know about my personalised settings and the HR indicated on the bike, within the 60-70% range I was already well over that according to the watch's % of MAXHR indicated and the zone was also incorrect.

 

So therefore I am assuming that the calorie and % fat burn of Cal calculations were also incorrect.

I have mailed Polar support so lets see what they come up with.

Further to that ... I can just stick to my ranges that I know yes and my training will work as intended.  

The issue is that the watch will not give an accurate presentation of that.

I can actually remember having the same issue with setting personalised zones vs own optimizer on my RCX 5.

[Izak]

Picked up something else now. Diary training calories and activity screen training calories do not match...

[Izak]

Ja thats what they say but the question actually came up since I had the zone pointer and the % of MAXHR indicated on one screen and also could see my heart rate on the WattBike screen it did not match.

 

For instance I wanted to train between 60-70% and especially towards the higher end of the range.

But when I was, according to what I know about my personalised settings and the HR indicated on the bike, within the 60-70% range I was already well over that according to the watch's % of MAXHR indicated and the zone was also incorrect.

 

So therefore I am assuming that the calorie and % fat burn of Cal calculations were also incorrect.

I have mailed Polar support so lets see what they come up with.

 

Herewith their half-arsed response:

 

Thank you for your e-mail. 

 

You calculations and observations are correct. On the Polar V800 you are able to select your HR display as "% of HR reserve" under the "Heart rate view" for each Sport Profile. This view is then the same as the Karvonen calculation. 

 

The fat percentage for energy expenditure considers maximum and resting heart rate only and not the target zone settings. 

 

I hope this helps. 

 

I can give you a letter that it does not work like that, maybe one of you can investigate, maybe I have a dud watch.

 

Furthermore to the second part of the response:

Ok so the training zones are basically null and void then for anyone wanting to use a Polar watch as a training aid for weight control.

[Wyatt Earp]

Get rid of the thing already .

[Izak]

Get rid of the thing already .

Hehehe

 

Should I stop digging and complaining

 

What do you use?

[SwissVan]

So here's the next round of Polar mystery files...

 

I've been wondering about these messages you get after a training session, sometimes they don't make sense to me in that they imo contradict themselves, maybe its me and I don't understand the Finnish fellows logic?

 

In the 1st 2 pics, the word "demanding" is used and implies that the training load (time to recover from the session?) is 17 hours. The recovery status shows as "balanced" which to me does not match the demanding and 17 hr load indication.

 

 

 

 

In the next 2, it says it was a "low intensity" session which imo contradicts the "demanding" description.

To be honest I think the last 2 pics best describe the session / effort and the first 2 are over reacting.

Maybe its me not understanding the polar messages and should not take them at face value?

 

 

 

 

[arendoog]

So is it worthwhile to swap my RCX 5 for one of these ?

[Spinnekop]

So here's the next round of Polar mystery files...

 

I've been wondering about these messages you get after a training session, sometimes they don't make sense to me in that they imo contradict themselves, maybe its me and I don't understand the Finnish fellows logic?

 

In the 1st 2 pics, the word "demanding" is used and implies that the training load (time to recover from the session?) is 17 hours. The recovery status shows as "balanced" which to me does not match the demanding and 17 hr load indication.

 

Swiss.

 

I suspect that you "started" the last session as "undertrained" or something.  Add 17 hour recovery load and you get "balanced".......

Make sense?

[Izak]

So here's the next round of Polar mystery files...

 

I've been wondering about these messages you get after a training session, sometimes they don't make sense to me in that they imo contradict themselves, maybe its me and I don't understand the Finnish fellows logic?

 

In the 1st 2 pics, the word "demanding" is used and implies that the training load (time to recover from the session?) is 17 hours. The recovery status shows as "balanced" which to me does not match the demanding and 17 hr load indication.

 

2015-03-18_0907.png

 

2015-03-18_0908.png

 

 

In the next 2, it says it was a "low intensity" session which imo contradicts the "demanding" description.

To be honest I think the last 2 pics best describe the session / effort and the first 2 are over reacting.

Maybe its me not understanding the polar messages and should not take them at face value?

 

2015-03-18_0908_001.png

 

2015-03-18_0908_002.png

 

 

That is rather strange.  Unless this was after a few days off where you were 'completely' undertrained.

[Izak]

Picked up something else now. Diary training calories and activity screen training calories do not match...

 

 

This is apparently an issue and they are currently looking into it.

[SwissVan]

Swiss.

 

I suspect that you "started" the last session as "undertrained" or something.  Add 17 hour recovery load and you get "balanced".......

Make sense?

 

Yes, Monday eve was a swim and Sunday morning a run so would have been in the undertrained stage I suspect

 

Yes I see what you mean, but then balanced means (I stand to be corrected) that all is good i.e. can carry on training without waiting to recover, but if that's the case then why the "17 hr load" what does that mean if not what I thought it means (17 hr recovery time)?