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A heart rate monitor is just that, it measures your heart rate at rest, during exercise or whenever you wear it. But, today's heart rate monitors can do a whole lot more then just measure your heart rate:
How A Heart Rate Monitor Can Help You Train Better
Heart Rate Monitors Automatically Read On Machines
You Can Train Within A Target Zone Without Slacking
Heart Rate Monitors Can Help You Shed Fat Faster
Heart Rate Monitors Can Help You Train
Additional Tips On Heart Rate Monitors
Note: If you have a heart condition, chest pain, feel dizzy or sick during exercise or have any medical condition, consult with your physician prior to substantially increasing your physical activity.
- You can set them to beep at you when you are out of your target range. Because there's nothing like a constant beep to tell you to move faster.
- Most, if not all, give you your average heart rate for a bout of exercise.
- Some measure calories burned (remember, this is an estimate and may not reflect your true calories burned).
- Some come with software that helps you analyze your training and plan upcoming training sessions accordingly. And, some have the ability to download data into other training programs so your coach can analyze it.
- Heart rate monitors especially made for cyclists provide cycling specific data.
- Some provide your location based on GPS.
How A Heart Rate Monitor Can Help You Train Better
Heart Rate Monitors Automatically Read On Machines
No doubt you've seen the heart rate monitors on machines in the gym. However, if you are running on a treadmill with your hands on the monitors to get your heart rate, I can guarantee one of two things:
- You aren't running fast enough or
- You are really messing up your gait.
You Can Train Within A Target Zone Without Slacking
I'm sure you've seen them. The people in your gym with no pedals on the bikes (wouldn't want to engage our hamstrings too much now would we) who are slowly pedaling while reading a magazine or book or chatting on the phone. Sure, they are in the "fat burning zone" where they are burning a greater percentage of their calories from fat.
However, they are also burning very few calories. And, if you are going to workout, why not get the most bang for your buck? If you want to burn just a few calories, wouldn't it make more sense to do this while taking a scenic stroll in a park instead of reading a torn up magazine in a crowded gym?
However, they are also burning very few calories. And, if you are going to workout, why not get the most bang for your buck? If you want to burn just a few calories, wouldn't it make more sense to do this while taking a scenic stroll in a park instead of reading a torn up magazine in a crowded gym?
Heart Rate Monitors Can Help You Shed Fat Faster
Work harder and longer and you'll burn more calories. Engage in interval training or high intensity interval training and you can cut your total aerobic time down and get better results. You'll improve your cardiovascular fitness and shed body fat (time to nix the whole "fat burning zone") faster.
You can alter your interval time and rest period depending on what you want to achieve and your state of fitness. If you want more information on how to design your intervals, check out these articles on HIIT here.
You can alter your interval time and rest period depending on what you want to achieve and your state of fitness. If you want more information on how to design your intervals, check out these articles on HIIT here.
Heart Rate Monitors Can Help You Train
By downloading your heart rate data, you or your coach can determine if you are on target with your training or overtraining (a higher than usual heart rate can be an indicator of overtraining).
Additional Tips On Heart Rate Monitors
- You probably don't need the top of the line model unless you are training for a race.
- Choose a heart rate monitor that fits your needs - there are some made for cycling, running and multisport athletes.
- If you tend to get lost in your own neighborhood, choose a heart rate monitor with a GPS built in.
- Determine your Training Zone. First, estimate your maximum heart rate (220 - age; or some heart rate monitors have this built in). Next, find the specific training zone that you want to train in (the percentages are based off your maximum heart rate):
60-70% - low intensity exercise
70-80% - medium intensity exercise
80+ - high intensity exercise
- Keep in mind that each individual is different and his or her response to training will vary as well. Some people can get their heart rate up very high whereas others may feel like they are exerting themselves and their heart rate doesn't increase (beta blockers and other medicines effect your heart rate response). In addition, stress, illness, overtraining, fatigue, time of day, food or drink, altitude, body temperature, hydration status and weather conditions all affect your heart rate.
Note: If you have a heart condition, chest pain, feel dizzy or sick during exercise or have any medical condition, consult with your physician prior to substantially increasing your physical activity.
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