BASIC TRAINING.

Q: I've been following the advanced fitness schedule with all your DVDs - and I love it. But what's driving me crazy is that, at the end of the kickboxing routine, everyone in the DVD is burning 700 to 800 calories and I am burning only half that.

At first I thought it was because I didn't have as much muscle. Now I can see that I have gained muscle, but the heart-rate monitor numbers have not changed. Can you explain this to me?

- Diane King Somers,

Connecticut

A: Heart-rate monitors are all variable, depending on the make. The manufacturer puts in an equation and calculates your calories expended as an estimate. None of them are exactly accurate. Some HR monitors calculate higher, some calculate lower. This is the same for calibrated cardio equipment like treadmills, steppers, ellipticals, bikes, etc. If you would like to know exactly the number of calories per minute that you burn at various heart rates, then you have to take what is called an Active Metabolic Test.

You can find a location to take this test at www.newleaffitness.com by plugging in your ZIP code. Use the heart-rate monitor that you currently have to compare between different forms of exercises that you are doing so you can be aware of which exercises challenge you most (high heart rate) and which workouts burn more calories. You can only compare apples to apples. I use the Nike Triax C6 heart rate monitor, and it is my favorite. If I were to do the same workout and wear the Polar monitor or the Freestyle monitor, I would get a totally different calorie output because each manufacturer calibrates with a different equation. Therefore, you cannot compare your heart rate monitor's output to the one that I am wearing on the DVD.

FITNESS TIP

Schedule your workouts into your calendar just as you would schedule a business meeting or an appointment at the salon. If your workout is given a specific time slot on your calendar, there's a greater chance that you'll do it!

ABOUT THE TRAINER

Jeanette Jenkins, founder and president of the Hollywood Trainer fitness company, has a bachelor of science degree in human kinetics from the University of Ottawa. A 14-year industry veteran, she has worked with actors and professional athletes, including Queen Latifah, Taryn Manning and Terrell Owens. A resident expert on the Food Network's weight-loss show, ``Weighing In,'' she is also the official spokeswoman for the BET Foundation's ``A Healthy BET Campaign,'' and is one of 17 experts chosen for Nike's Elite Athletes program.

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(1) no caption (woman holding calendar)

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