Sitemap

health advisory Diet Diet 2007-11-11 21:04:29

I see exercise equipment that monitors your heart rate at the gym and am wondering how it benefits your workout. Is there a reason? Does it benefit your workout in any way?

Answer:

Knowing your heart rate definately benefits your workout. Firstly, depending on your workout type, your heart rate would vary. It depends whether you are working out for weight management,aerobic conditioning(for better stamina & endurance) or advanced conditioning(training for sporting events like marathons,tennis etc).

For each of these cases, there is a lower and upper limit. The lower limit basically indicates that you have reached the region in which best results could be obtained. And upper limit indicating excessive work out which could result in injuries.

For weight management - The desired heart rate would be 60-70 percent of your max. heart rate. In this region,you would be able to burn off a substancial number of calories.

For aerobic conditioning & weight management - Desired heart rate is between 70-80 % of your max. heart rate. This would be the fat burning zone.

For advanced conditioning - Desired heart rate is 80% and above your max heart rate. This would be advisable for people who are already in top shape. This is also a fat burning zone.

---

some exercises raise your heart rate and by raising your rate, it's more beneficial of a work out

---

One reason - if you exercise at a heart rate that is too high - it may not be healthy at all... secondly - e. g. when running - your body burns more energy if you exercise at a low heart rate.

---

if the heart is healthy there is no reason to monitor the BPM. staying at "x" heart-rate to stay in the fat burning zone is an antiquated and outdated method of performing cardio.

---

For most people, the heart rate monitors on exercise machines are like a tachometer on a car with an automatic transmission, i.e., pointless.