How To Best Use A Heart Rate Monitor
Using heart rate monitors when working out has several advantages. First, you can keep track of your performance during a workout session. Whether you are jogging, cycling, swimming, doing aerobics or sweating it out in the treadmill, you can engage in any of these physical activities and still be able to monitor your heart rate. As you workout for about twenty minutes, you need to maintain your maximum heart rate to get the best results from your workout session. Second, you can maintain a healthy heart and a fit body with the use of a heart rate monitor. Second, you will be able to work towards your personal health and fitness target. By having a predetermined set of goals, you can exercise as lightly or as heavily as you need to. Reaching your goals will also be a great motivation to keep going and see your exercise program to the finish.
Typical heart rate monitors are basically made up of a chest transmitter and a receiver to measure the heart rate. There are strapless and wireless varieties, as well as other models with additional features. Aside from the heart rate, other models also measure the average heart rate, the highest and lowest heart rate, the amount of calories burned, the amount of energy expended and other significant factors which you can use to make the most out of your workout session. Whether your target is weight loss or building your endurance, you can use the heart rate monitor to reach these targets.
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To effectively use a heart rate monitor, you can record your maximum heart rate to serve as your reference point. If your heart rate is too low, no matter how long you exercise, your body will not reap any benefits out of your workout. On the other hand, maintaining your maximum heart rate and exercising for twenty minutes or so will provide you optimal results. Also, you can pace your exercise enough to know when you are overexerting yourself. The heart rate monitor will be like your personal trainer, to tell you when you are going too slow or going too fast.
Here is a quick run through for calculating your maximum heart rate. For men, your average maximum rate should be 220 beats per minute minus your age. For women, the maximum heart rate is 227 beats per minute minus the age. These calculations are true if an individual fits the 'average' profile. However, the ideal maximum heart rate would still depend on the body type and other factors so it is important to determine appropriate heart rate for you by consulting a professional. You will gain the utmost benefit out of a heart rate monitor by knowing how to interpret the results and using it to your advantage. Based from these results, you can learn how to pace yourself and reach your personal fitness goals as you exercise.
Heart Rate Monitor
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