Heart Rate Monitor – A Must Have for your New Workout Routine

Heart Rate Monitor A Must Have for your New Workout Routine

If you purchase nothing else to support your new exercise regime, be sure to invest in a reliable heart-rate monitor. We're not talking about the top-of-the-line model with all of the bells and whistles; a basic model will work just fine.

How a Heart Monitor Works

A traditional unit has two parts: a chest strap and a wrist watch. The strap fits comfortably around your chest and registers your heart rate, sending this information (wirelessly) to a display on the watch. The watch will show your heart rate, exercise time, and average heart rate. You will be able to set the monitor to alert you when your heart rate goes below or above your desired range. This simple heart rate monitor can act as your personal training by helping you:

Accurately Measure your Heart Rate

As you work out, it is critical to gradually increase your heart rate, maintain it at a steady and appropriate level, and decrease it slowly. The best way to make sure your heart is beating as it should during exercise is to view it on the heart rate monitor display. The only other way to get this information is to manually take your pulse which can be difficult to get right; especially for beginners.

Monitor Exercise Intensity

It is important to not over-do it when you first begin exercising. A heart rate monitor will let you know if your training is too strenuous for your fitness level. On the flip side, it will also tell you if you are not training hard enough.

Get Motivated and Track your Progress

Having goals is one of the best ways to stay motivated with an exercise routine. The heart rate monitor will allow you to set straightforward goals such as maintaining a defined heart rate for a set amount of time. You will be able to judge your improvement over time by recording your heart rate data after each workout (some more advanced monitors will let you download this information to your computer). Your successes will motivate you to work harder and you will know when you need to reset your goals.

How to Interpret the Numbers

The changing number on the display represents your current heart rate, i.e. the number of times your heart will beat in one minute's time. A beat is technically a contraction of the lower ventricles of the heart. You'll want to learn what these numbers mean to you. To find your maximum heart rate take 220 and subtract your age. Your target zone is between 50% and 80% of this number. For example, if you are 36 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 184 (220-34). Your heart rate range will be between 92 (50%) and 147 (80%) as you are working out. As your fitness improves your heart rate will slow down while doing the same amount of exercise. This will encourage you to work harder to maintain the same heart rate.

Before you splurge for the latest and greatest running shoe or fashionable workout wear, pick up a heart rate monitor and start using it from day one of your new exercise routine.

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