Okay, after doing a search on HRMs I have learned that the most important thing is overall calorie burn. My question is, now that I have used my HRM for over 3 weeks, I noticed it takes longer for me to get my heart rate to elevate. Does this mean that my body is becoming more fit? Am I doing something wrong? Also, how long (on average) should it take me to "get back to normal?"


Any additional words of wisdom are welcomed and appreciated.
Thanks!

It definitely means that you're getting more cardiovascularly fit! One of the things that the people of TheFitCast.com have suggested on their podcast (including guests like Alwyn Cosgrove) is that an excess of cardio makes weight loss a little bit harder, because people tend to get cardiovascularly fit fairly quickly. They believe (as I do), that in order to get the most bang for your exercise buck (so to speak), you need to keep your body metabolically inefficient.

So, doing things like High Intensity Intervals and lifting weights with full-body movements (squats, deadlifts, etc.), keep your body from getting too efficient with workouts too quickly. Weights are fantastic because you can up the poundage if they are too easy, and with HIIT you can push yourself harder in the sprints, and get your heart rate down with walking fairly easily. It's much harder to get your heart rate up with steady-state cardio once you've reached a point where your body's very efficient at keeping your heart rate steady.

That's just my .02. I'm not saying that you should completely give up cardio, if that's what you're doing now. But I would suggest trying out HIIT instead of steady state and if you're not lifting heavy, maybe trying that.

Thanks for your advice. I am going to try working some sprints throughout my run. Also, a co-worker recommended trying to run backwards (not too far/fast) to change things up some. I am also hoping to get some swimming in to my routine. I am finding it difficult to run some days b/c of the heat.

I do not belong to a gym and currently do not have a lot of weights, but I am trying to learn some basic exercises using my resistance bands. I don't really like them too much, but it is probably a matter of educating myself on how to use them effectively.

Time will tell.....off to new adventures.