If you want to workout to your maximum potential, a heart rate monitor can help you to do just that. Heart rate monitors provide a wealth of information which can help you to assess your workout. Use this information to help you tailor a workout which best suits your fitness level.
First you should establish your resting heart rate. This is the measurement of your heart rate when you are completely rested and relaxed. The most effective way to get this measurement is to put on your heart rate monitor when you wake in the morning. This will ensure that no environmental or dietary factors are influencing your results.
The other measurement you will need to establish is your maximum heart rate. There are a number of different calculations, but the two most commonly used are as follows. If you are beginning an exercise regime after having been sedentary, you will want to subtract your age from 226 if you are a woman, and 220 if you are a man. If you are an active person, then you will want to divide your age in half and subtract that number from 205. Both of these formulas give you a general measurement. If you want a more exact number you can take a lab stress test. This generally runs around $200.
After determining your heart rate range you can set your targets. You will want to create a chart of percentages of your maximum heart rate ranging from 50 percent to 95 percent. Most athletes use a more complex formula, however a percentage of maximum heart rate is sufficient for most people.
Developing a training program is easy now, but some people will find that working with a trainer can be helpful at this stage. You will want to set heart rate targets to achieve while you are working out. Your heart rate monitor will be the tool you use to determine if you are hitting your targets.
Regardless of how you devise your training program, you should make an effort to keep track of your workouts. It can be very helpful to have a record of what you have been doing and your level of fitness over time so that, if you want to change your workout, you can determine what has been most effective. Your heart rate monitor can provide a wealth of information.
It is also a good idea to monitor your resting heart rate. This will give you a good idea of your general fitness level. As you become more fit, your resting heart rate will get lower.
A heart rate monitor will provide you with a more accurate picture of your fitness level than your pant size. Sure you can note whether your fitness is improving by the effort you need to exert during your workout.
About the Author:
Graham Allmanson, who has been a personal trainer for more than a decade, has written an easy to understand guide to buying a strapless heart monitor. You can find additional information and reviews of various heart monitor watches at his site.
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Posted under Heart Rate Monitor
This post was written by Lane Wright on April 30, 2009
