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Jul 16
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A heart rate monitor is a compact unit including a watch with a digital display and a strap that includes a sensor for reading your heart beat. The strap is worn around the chest during a work out and sends digital signals to the ‘watch’ about how fast your heart is beating. All sportsmen and fitness experts use a heart rate monitoring device during their exercise sessions because it helps decide exactly how fast and how much one should work out for best results.
Up to a few years back, most people used the traditional method of feeling their pulse for a minute or so to record their heart rate after a workout. But the method does not give an accurate reading because your heart tends to slow down when you pause to check the pulse. Using a heart rate monitor does not interfere with your movements and you get a much more accurate measurement of your aerobic endurance – a critical factor in evaluating your fitness level.
Most people tend to work out a tad bit too much out of sheer enthusiasm and then spend three days relaxing to get over the fatigue. A heart rate monitor can prevent over-exercising. While the monitor will let you know if you are not working out enough, it will also serve as a reminder to stop when you cross your body’s endurance level and check injury.
When using a heart rate monitor, you will need to set two ‘limit-markings’ for your heart rate. These are calculated as the maximum heart rate (MHR) and the resting heart rate (RHR). As evident, the MHR gives you the max heart rate you can achieve with intense exercise and the RHR gives you your heart rate when you are relaxing.
For calculating the MHR, men must subtract their age from 220 and women from 226. This is the formula to be used for a person who is just beginning to exercise. For those who have already been exercising, both men and women, the MHR works out by subtracting half their age from 205.
The MHR is used to divide your exercise routine into sessions of maximum burn and rest. Your trainer will be able to help you prepare a suitable chart for this or you can check some excellent website on the Internet for scheduling your fitness routine. The aim of tracking the heart rate is to reach a level of faster and intense exercise at a lower heart rate.
Some of the most advanced heart rate monitoring systems are now available in the market. These can be connected to your computer, provide detailed analysis of various data including calorie burnout and a memory card so that you don’t have to keep noting down the data after every exercise session.
When buying a heart rate monitor do check if it has coded signals. This is essential because if you’re in a gym and the person working out next to you is also using a heart rate monitor then some interference may take place in the data transmission from the sensor strap.
Alan Walker can tell you which is the best fitness heart rate monitor as he has been using it for many years while training his clients. He has written reviews for best heart rate monitor watches in his blog.
