Timex Bodylink Plus with Heart Rate and Speed Distance

I have a HRM and it's working fine for me, but as soon as my other half puts it on, the readings go all perculiar.  If you take his heart rate manually its about 64 resting, but the monitor says about 31, and it continues to read far too low when running too.

 It's working fine when I put it on so I don't think it's the battery.

Hubby is carrying a little (ok, a lot) of extra weight though, and I wonder whether that effects the efficiency of the HRM picking up the readings?  Has anyone else had this trouble if they were/are overweight?

 He's looking at buying another HRM but we don't want to do that if the problem is with him and not the HRM in case the same thing happens.

 In case it's relevent it's a Timex Ironman.

Posted: 21/06/2008 at 11:01

Posted: 21/06/2008 at 12:08

I find that sometimes I get 50% of my HR (running along...160, 160, 80, 160...hmmmm).  Your bloke got 31 when a manual reading said 64, could be the same thing. 

For me (not a dainty person at all), what works was tucking the strap under my bra to keep it firmly in place.  Unless your OH has unusual taste in running kit that won't work for him....maybe tighten the strap a bit and make sure the contacts are decently against the skin.  There is some contact gel stuff I think that can help.

Posted: 21/06/2008 at 13:20

It works if he's laying down but goes odd as soon as he stands up - I don't think the contacts make good enough, well, contact.

 Yes, we wet them.

Will try some of the gel stuff and see if that makes it any better. 

 I would be interested to know if anyone else has had trouble with HRM if they are overweight - presumably the information needs to get from the heart to the sensors, and the more that's in the way, the harder it must be?

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 17:10

Experiment with some different positions......

....of the HRM strap!!  Depending on how high the strap sits, I can get wildly different readings, although I think I have now found the best place just below my breastbone. The tightness is also important - it should be enough to feel 'tight' (you'll get used to it) but not uncomfortable or constricting your breathing.

Oh, and one other thing - wearing an HRM strap pushes everything above it up and out a bit...this is especially a problem if you are carrying a little extra weight and I used to have terrible trouble with chafed nipples!! I found those little round 'spot' plasters were great, although once the weight came off, it wasn't really a problem any more.

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 18:47

This might be a stupid question - but where is the best place for it to sit on a bloke??

I (obviously) wear it just underneath the boobs, but is that the same for men or should it be higher up over the chest? 

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 20:16

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 20:28

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 21:45

Just re-read my last post and I should probably clarify that I am a bloke! And yeah, a little bit lower might be the answer...

Posted: 22/06/2008 at 22:08

Posted: 23/06/2008 at 08:00

Soulds like the stap is a bit loose to me, I get the same thing sometimes and have to stop and tighten it. Alternativly you can also wear the hrm strap backwards with the contacts in the middle of your back - I understand this is popular with cyclists and works just as well.

I have to say that I'm overweight and have not had any serious problems either with my Polar F7 or Garmin 305 hrm straps so I doubt its a fat problem.

Posted: 23/06/2008 at 10:40

Posted: 23/06/2008 at 17:33