Heart Rate Monitors

I am starting to work out more, and have a goal of doing a couch to 5K once I get to a lower target weight (hopefully to save my knees).  I want to invest in a heart rate monitor so I can get a better idea of the calories I burn, and to keep my heart rate in a target zone to increase my endurance... the ones on the treadmills at the gym kind of suck. 

Any recommendations? 

Also, any one use the FitBit?

Kind of depends on how much you want to spend.

You can get previous models of the Garmin gps watches that have HR monitors, but will also give you tons more information like how fast you are going etc.  You can upload that info to a free training long they have online, or you can do it with your own computer.

Or you can get just a plain HR monitor.

https://www.gps4us.com/GARMIN-Forerunner-305-with-Heart-Rate -Monitor--P493.html?gclid=CIzGicD5wrMCFYF7Qgodfh4AEQ

I have the Polar FT4 and it does everything I need it to do.  It is very motivating to see your heart rate, calories burned and time during my exercise sessions.  Good luck!

I have a couple polars and they work fine, and are compatible with most Gym equipment.  Recently I got a Wahoo BlueTooth HR monitor and I like it.  Sends all the info for display to your iphone, and they have a nice app to track your workouts.  You can integrate with data from a bike (cadence, speed, gps) etc.  And all the history is stored on your phone, not lost at the gym.

Link to strap on Amazon: $69.00: http://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-Fitness-Heart-Strap-iPhone/dp/B0 06NZH0TU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353903222&sr=8-1&keywords=w ahoo+blue+hr

For example, here's a screen shot from the Cyclemeter app showing my HR today during a 50 mile ride.  The HR was recorded direct to iPhone from the Wahoo Blue HR strap.