Heart rate monitoring

What's your heart rate?

What most people don't understand is that monitoring your heart rate is essential to achieving your health and fitness goals.

You may think that training is just for athletes but this is not true. I  believe that with few exceptions everyone can start a training or exercise routine that will create change and lead to a fit and healthy life.

Whether you want to change by shedding a few kilos or you just want to feel good about yourself, then here's a way that, if you follow it, you may end up on the wellness road to a new life.

What I'm talking about is Heart Zone Training, the best approach to all-around fitness I've found. This isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. It works for a 50-year-old athletic type, a 60-year old with a family history of heart problems, a 70-year old wanting to improve strength, or an 80-year old who wants to climb to the third floor of a building without puffing. It works for a 20-year-old who wants to get fitter, a 30-year-old who has become more sedentary from too much time in front of a computer, and a 40-year-old who is preparing for a second wedding ceremony and wants to be their best.

Firstly you need to know what your heart rate is while you are exercising at and secondly you need to keep a record of the daily data to offer additional motivation in your quest for a more healthy life.

Before I mention any more guidelines to this please ensure you consult your doctor prior to undertaking any exercise schedule.

The simple and basic guidelines for maximum heart rate are :  220 minus your age which will equal your maximum heart rate.

The average person aiming for weight loss will need to target 60% to 70% of their maximum heart rate.

For example if your age is 50 then your max HR is 170 and 60% of that is 102 beats per minute.

Keep it simple and aim for 100, this will be achieved by walking at a good pace for 60 minutes. Wearing a heart rate monitor will keep you on track and ensure you are in the right zone.

The other great advantage of a heart rate monitor is it will measure your calories burned and although it can be misleading at times it does offer more incentive to keep you moving and on track. And the more incentive the better I say.

There are a number of heart rate models available but we only recommend Polar. They offer a large range suitable for all levels: Polar Heart Rate Monitors