Heart Rate Monitoring
WhyshouldImonitorexerciseintensity?
Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and, like all muscles, must be exercised regularly to remain strong and efficient. According to fitness experts, exercise is more effective when you work out in a specific heart rate range or zone. This is referred to as your Target Heart Rate Zone (THRZ) and is reflected by the number of beats per minute your heart pumps. This zone can vary greatly depending on your age, fitness level and various other factors. If your heart rate is too low during exercise, your body reaps little or no benefit. This means you’re not likely to see the results you want, like weight loss or increased endurance. If your heart rate is too high during exercise, you may tire too quickly and become frustrated, or even run the risk of injury. In this case, you’re likely to quit exercising because it’s simply too difficult.
Monitoring exercise intensity helps you to stay at a level of exercise that allows you to accomplish your goals.
In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that, in order to get the most benefit from your cardiovascular exercise, you should work within your Target Heart Rate Zone for at least 20 to 60 minutes per workout, 3 to 5 times per week. Knowing your exercise intensity (heart rate) will allow you to work at the right level of exercise to accomplish this.
HowdoIdeterminemyTargetHeartRateZone(THRZ)?
Your Target Heart Rate Zone represents the minimum and maximum number of times your heart should beat in one minute of exercise. The American College if Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends that all individuals should work within a Target Heart Rate Zone of 60% to 85% of Maximum Heart Rate. This means that your heart rate during exercise should not fall below 60% or rise above 85% of your maximum heart rate. Let’s look at John from our earlier example. John is 35 years old, so his estimated maximum heart rate is 220 minus 35, or 185 beats per minute (bpm). The ACSM says that John should exercise between 60% and 85% of 185 beats per minute to stay in his THRZ. Let’s determine John’s THRZ:
John’s Estimated Maximum Heart Rate = | 185 bpm |
Lower Target Limit 185 bpm (mhr) x 0.6 = | 111 bpm |
Upper Target Limit185 bpm (mhr) x 0.85 = | 157 bpm |
John’s Target Heart Rate Zone = | 111 - 157 bpm |
Different Intensity Levels within a Target Heart Rate Zone
Beginner: | 60% of MHR |
Weight Loss: | 75% of MHR |
Aerobic: | 85% of MHR |
Whatisaheartmonitor?
A monitor consists of two parts: a transmitter and a receiver. The Executive Trainer comes equipped with 2 transmitter options (the wireless chest strap or the contact heart rate bar). Each times your heart beats, the electrodes detect
the beat and send the information to the receiver on the treadmill. Your current heart rate (bpm) is visible on the treadmill’s display.
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