Monitor Your Heart
Last Christmas my husband gave me a heart rate monitor. I wasn’t exactly enthused at first: do I really need one of these things? A nice watch or diamond tennis bracelet was more in line with my expectations ... but instead I get a doohickey to tell me my heart is still beating. Well, at least it was small and a cute shade of baby blue. I would have to make the best of it.
Fast forward a year+, and it is now my favorite accessory ... with the possible exception of my engagement ring ;) I honestly don’t know how I worked out without it. So what's the big deal?
Keeping track of your heart rate is important because it helps you monitor how hard you are working and helps track your fitness progress. If you are not working in your target heart rate zone, which varies for everyone, then you are either working too hard or not enough. In addition, monitoring your heart rate helps you track your current fitness level and progress. The more “fit” you are the less time it will take to bring your heart rate down to resting level after a workout.
Ever see that movie Tron?
Not surprisingly, many people don't know what their target heart rate is or should be. The basic formula to figure out your target heart rate is 220 - age x the % of your maximum heart rate. To burn fat, it is ideal to stay around 60-80% of your maximum heart rate, although even working as low as 50-55% has proven to still burn fat as well. So for example 220 - 29 = 191 x .60 = 114.6, 220 - 29 = 191 x .80 = 152.8. This happens to be my target range 115-153. A heart rate monitor will keep track of this for you. You initially program your information, and it lets you know when you are working too little or too hard.
I love my heart rate monitor because it keeps my workouts challenging and fun. By keeping track of my heart rate and calories burned, you feel more satisfied when the workout is completed. While the machines at the gym supposedly keep track of your heart rate and calories burned, based on my own experiences these machines are not very accurate, and tend to be very kind in etimating the number of calories you supposedly burned (oh I know - that is such a downer isn't it? sorry).
Heart rate monitors range in price from your basic model for as low as $50.00 to as high as $500.00. Many different companies make heart rate monitors, but the most popular is Polar. I have a Polar F4- which was $90.00, and it works great. A small price to pay to work out safer and more effectively.
Stay Strong,
Kristi
6 Comments
Reader Comments (6)
I mostly just guesstimate, keeping it somewhere between "I'm going to die at any second" and "I might live to see tomorrow." Probably not so scientific, so maybe I'll watch for a good deal on an HRM.
I got one, and I love it. It is a watch and it does much more than just monitor my heart. It is also a pedometer and a stopwatch so much...I keep track of my heart rate, it is an amazing tool.~C
Oooo, thanks for this info!
I really need to get me one of those. The only one I have is what came with the exercise bike. I used the formula and found that my range should be between 109 to 146. If the heart monitor is accurate, then I'm mostly where I should be, although there have been many times when I'm over 150 while pedaling away. I hope that's not too bad. Death by bike is not my preferred way to go.
I have been thinking about getting a heart rate monitor for quite some time but, like your first commenter, I usually just go until I think I am in cardiac arrest. Then I stop. Probably not a good plan, huh? Thanks for the info - you've convinced me I need one.
And thanks, too, for stopping by my blog!
Thanks for the follow up. It's good to know my heart won't explode. And this is the first time I've been told I was "young" in a while. So, heart aflutter.
I tell you, it's kinda cool to have an on-line personal trainer!
I LOVE my HRM. I got it because I live alone and therefore exercise alone. Wanted something to tell me when I was over doing it so I wouldn't have a heart attack. I strap it on anytime I even might be doing exercise.