Heart Rate Monitor question
 

I got a polar heart rate monitor for christmas.

I tried it out at curves today and my heart rate stayed around 110 most of the time. I'm 38. Do you think this is high enough for cardio?

For anyone that uses a monitor what heart rate do you try and get to while exercising?

re: heart rate watches
 

So I got one for christmas aswell. What I am wondering is does it only work while you actually working out? I have the timex one, and I have just been getting the setting and stuff . I have had in on for about 1 hour, but there is no readind yet.
Also I was wonder where are the sensors located in the watch, should the face of the watch be turned on top of your wrist or would it be better on the under side of your wrist??? ( or does this not matter ?)

Please let me know, I cant wait to use it. I just wanted to make sure its working right!!
Thanks Amy

you're roughly at 59% of your max heart rate(188). i would say that's a good starting point, but i would work up to 65-70% of your max heart rate.

I use an exercise bike. I try and stay around 138-150. Im 26/M.

Lester.

I usually exercise at 135-150, which is about 75-80% for me. I'm 52.

That is funny, I got HRM for Christmas too! I did some research today. :)

http://www.weightlossforgood.co.uk/t...heart_rate.htm

The basic formula to find your target heartrate is...

start with 220- your age. (220-38= 182). So, your max is 182, you will never want to go above that.
For weight loss, you will want to work at 60-70% of your max heart rate (110-128)
For aerobic exercise, you will want to stay around 70-80% (128-146)

I try to do a little of both during my workouts now. For example, during a 30 min workout, I will warm up, try to say at my 65-70% range for 15 minutes, go up to my aerobic range (70-80%) for about 10 minutes, come down to 65-70% again for the remaining 5 minutes then take a couple of minutes to moving to cool down to about 50%. :) Hope that helps.

Thanks for the replies Lucky, Sheila & lester. I'm going to try and do my WATP dvd tomorrow and hopefully get up around at least 130.

Amy have you read the directions on your monitor? Mine has a strap that you have to wear right under your bra strap in order to get a reading.

You know I did not read this in my booklet, I have a strap. I guess I need to use it!!! Thanks so much.
Amy

Okay, it really works. I am so excited!!!!
But it beeps and I now have to fiqure out how to mute that!!
Thanks so much for the help!!!
I cant wait to use this today.....

Amy

Amy, what kind of monitor did you get?

Timex!
What kind do you all have??

I got a polar HRM. I used it today during Tae bo and I was up around 115 for most of the time.

does yours beep the whole time you use it??

Amy mine doesn't beep at all. That must be very annoying!

I got a reebok one- I love it.

Mine does have a sound option, I turn it off though because it drives me crazy.:)

I have got to find that opt on mine!!!
Hope I have it.
I am gonna read my manual better today at work!!