PonyFever
06-28-2008, 08:50 PM
I started workout out last November and have been 5x/week since.
Cliff notes preamble: 30+ years smoking = COPD and certain death. I quit smoking last August almost on my deathbed and weighing in at 140# at 6'1". Lung capacity was 17% of an average man my age/physique. Ohter physical issues were pinched nerves in lower back and torn ligaments in both shoulders.
I gave myself a personal trainer at Lifetime in Carrollton. In conjunction with my pulmonologist, they suggested a heart monitor during my cardio so I could track heart/lung progress. I got a Polar RS400 and to be frank, it's an expensive POS. It's only worked correctly about 10% of the time. It seems like the transmitter isn't sending a signal since neither the watch or machines rarely pick up anything. And simply changing the time to PST = forget about it, even with instructions.
I went so far as to have both batteries replaced in April after moving to Vegas and it's still hit-or-miss as to whether it will work in any given workout. Makes cardio, in particular, very challenging since I try to guage my intensity to my heartrate (140'ish maintain, peak 150).
Any recommendations from this crowd of experienced workout troops to a replacement or fix? I'd rather not drop another $200 (kick me, I'm stupid) for something that won't work as advertised.
Thanks
Cliff notes preamble: 30+ years smoking = COPD and certain death. I quit smoking last August almost on my deathbed and weighing in at 140# at 6'1". Lung capacity was 17% of an average man my age/physique. Ohter physical issues were pinched nerves in lower back and torn ligaments in both shoulders.
I gave myself a personal trainer at Lifetime in Carrollton. In conjunction with my pulmonologist, they suggested a heart monitor during my cardio so I could track heart/lung progress. I got a Polar RS400 and to be frank, it's an expensive POS. It's only worked correctly about 10% of the time. It seems like the transmitter isn't sending a signal since neither the watch or machines rarely pick up anything. And simply changing the time to PST = forget about it, even with instructions.
I went so far as to have both batteries replaced in April after moving to Vegas and it's still hit-or-miss as to whether it will work in any given workout. Makes cardio, in particular, very challenging since I try to guage my intensity to my heartrate (140'ish maintain, peak 150).
Any recommendations from this crowd of experienced workout troops to a replacement or fix? I'd rather not drop another $200 (kick me, I'm stupid) for something that won't work as advertised.
Thanks