Working Out With a Heart Rate Monitor

November 8th, 2007 Posted in Conditioning, Exercise Equipment 3 Comments »

This is an old post. For more and better information, check out How to Calculate Your Target Heart Rate. You can also score a sweet Reebok Strapless Heart Rate Monitor on that page.

Girl Athlete
Female Athlete

Do you own a heart rate monitor? If not, then you are not alone. However, heart rate monitors are becoming increasingly popular, especially among athletes and those with certain health conditions.

In the days before heart rate monitors, people would have to stop and manually count a pulse by placing fingers over the carotid artery. Not only would this pressure on the artery distort the reading, but would cause some to get light headed by their pressing too hard in an attempt to find a pulse. Now, with a heart rate monitor, one doesn’t even need to stop to get an accurate reading.

The most important reason to buy a heart rate monitor is for safety.

Most fitness professionals will tell average clients to keep their target heart rate between 55% and 85% of their maximum heart rate. In order to calculate one’s maximum heart rate, simply subtract your age from the number 220. Next, you can then use this number and multiply it by 0.55 to get the lower end of the target zone and by 0.85 to find the cut off point.

Those with threatening conditions would be advised to exercise in the 55-60% range.

Still, let it be known that heart rate monitors are also a vital tool for the endurance athlete. Not only do heart rate monitors make readings simpler, they also make monitoring progress a lot simpler as well.

With a heart rate monitor, an athlete can better determine how to set the pace in an effort to optimize race performance. Without one, endurance athletes would run the risk of either over-training and exhausting the body or under-training and not pushing the body hard enough.

One thing is for certain though, heart rate monitors are useful tools that can simultaneously help and protect both the fittest of the fit and those at extreme risk.

Those trainees that regularly participate in cardiovascular activities can benefit by constantly gauging their heart rate, thus targeting their intensity to more effectively burn fat.

Again, this is an old post. For more and better information, check out How to Calculate Your Target Heart Rate. Get more info about the Reebok Strapless Heart Rate Monitor on that page too.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post


If you like this post please share with your friends and connect with us.

Subscribe to updates via e-mail:

Need Pure Whey Protein Powder?

If you are looking for a pure protein powder, check out Optimum Nutrition. Optimum Nutrition protein powder comes in about 20 different flavors, and is available in 1 lb, 2 lb, 5 lb, and 10 lb containers.
Click here to order or learn more about Optimum Nutrition.

Need Amino Acids?

Glutamine and other amino acids are often more powerful than regular protein powder. Use Xtend Amino Acids to jump start your body in the morning, help provide energy during a workout, and stay anabolic while you sleep.
Click here to order or learn more about Xtend Amino Acids.

About Project Swole - Project Swole is managed and mostly written by Steve, a formerly IFPA and ISSA certified personal trainer and sport nutritionist, who has been studying, practicing, and experimenting with fitness and nutrition since 1992. Please use the content at Project Swole to supplement the advice of your doctor or physician. All medical questions should be directed towards a qualified medical professional, and the advice provided at Project Swole should be used at your own discretion.

Here are some humorous links:

No related posts.

Tags: , ,

3 Responses to “Working Out With a Heart Rate Monitor”

  1. Many of the reasons you offer are compelling. However, there is one aspect of this story I wish you would have included and that is what role the internet could play in you and your physicians ability to monitor your health.

  2. Steve says:

    Well, I am not a physician, but if you are interested in writing a short article about this topic, I would gladly publish it with you as a guest author.

  3. I think this is an area which should be explored. Let me do some research and get back with you.

Leave a Reply

CommentLuv badge