I went ahead and purchased the T5G971 heart rate monitor to win a bet I made with my son that I could lose 20 pounds by Christmas. I plan to cut back on my eating, and start a daily power walking program around a track at a nearby school. When I first started, I had never used a sport's watch before.  I have used the Timex T5G971 for 2 weeks now, which is long enough to report on it's performance.

When i would begin exercise programs in the past, i was never sure how much good the exercise was actually doing. Consequently, when I would fail to lose weight for a few days, I would stop exercising. Eventually, I would stop dieting as well.

Now that i monitor my pulse,  I know that my exercise is helping me burn fat. By wearing my chest strap, I am constantly aware of my average heart rate, and whether or not I am in my proper  zone. When I am in my age appropriate  zone, my body prefers to use fat as a fuel source, rather than sugar.

The Timex T5G971 even sounds an alarm if I am not in my zone! It is like having my own personal trainer walking with me! I also like how easy this watch is to use. You certainly don't have to be a "rocket scientist", to understand and use it's functions.

Some colleagues at work have heart rate monitors that they paid an "arm and a leg" for, and for the life of me I can't understand how to use them! It seems to me that it doesn't matter how many "whistles and bells" a watch has that is important.

The important thing is to actually use the device, by employing the features that are important to you, and your fitness goals. For example, I walk after work, so frequently it is dark outside.

The T5G971 is backlit with a display that is easy to read in dimly lit conditions. To me, that is a practical feature.

So far, I have lost my first 5 pounds, and I feel GREAT! So great, in fact, that I am giving my son the Timex T5G971 heart rate monitor for Christmas!