How To Use A Heart Rate Monitor Effectively

A heart rate monitor is an excellent gadget that can assist you in working out to your maximum potential. The information you garner from your heart rate monitor will help you assess your workouts. You can use this information to tailor your workout to best suit your fitness level and your goals.

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.

You will also need to establish your resting heart rate. There are two easy calculations you can use. If you are sedentary you should subtract your age from 226 if you are a female, or subtract your age from 220 if you are a male. The other calculation is for people who have been active. Both men and women should divide their age in half and subtract that from 205. These formulas provide a general target. If you are an athlete, you may want to invest in a lab stress test to get a target that is more tailored to you.

Now that you know the low and high ranges for your heart rate, you can determine what your training zones should be. Multiply your maximum heart rate by 50% to 95% in 5% increments. Most athletes use a slightly more complicated formula, but this is more than sufficient for the average person. You will probably want to create a chart of this data for easy reference.

The next step is to develop a training program. Often people will attempt to workout in a target heart rate for a certain period of time. It is a good idea to vary your workouts, and interval training is particularly effective in improving fitness more quickly. Some people get the assistance of a trainer at this stage.

It is very important to keep track of your exercise regime. This way you will be able to look back over history to see what has been most effective for you. It can also be a motivational tool. Youll want to indicate your maximum heart rate while you were exercising, along with calories burned, duration of workout; all of this information you can get from your heart rate monitor.

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.