I was at the gym today and my friends told me they thought my heart rate was too high for me when I was on the elliptical trainer. I was working on it for 25 minutes and the heart rate monitor on the machine said 147 to 152. The machine has a chart for my age 40 and the top rate was 153 on that. I am just a little concerned. I felt ok during and afterwards. Any place on the net where I can look at a good reliable chart?? Or does anyone know if this is ok??

This is the calculator I use:

http://health.yahoo.com/centers/weight_loss/10004

You should make goals about achieving your target heart rate... Your goal during exercise should be 60% - 80% of your maximum heart rate (which can be determined by subtracting your age from 226). HOWEVER as long as you feel alright, your heart rate should not be a problem. I would worry only if you feel light-headed, dizzy, like your heart is really pounding or racing, if you feel faint, get blurred vision, or have shortness of breath. As long as you don't experience those things, it shouldn't be a problem. Even the target and maximum heart rates are estimates, every individual is unique and their body responds to and tolerates exercise in different ways.

I regularly work in the top bit of my heart rate. Especially now I'm starting to run. It's improving, but it still gets way up there. I feel fine, but I try and bring the intensity down if it's there for too long, or going up and up. Do you use a heart rate monitor is it the hand thingies on the machine? I find the heart rate monitor give a more accurate (and lower) reading, I think it's coz my hands get really hot and sweaty, personally.