I'm curious about something...

My resting HR is now about 50.

I know that before, when I was heavier and out-of-shape it was in the 80s.

I'm definitely a lot fitter than I was-- but I'm not THAT fit-- I feel like my cardiovascular fitness is still kind of sub par...

Would a year of mild to moderate exercise on most days really give me a resting HR of fifty? Or is there something else going on...?

That sounds right to me. My resting heart rate ended up somewhere below 50 after a year or so. Remember, you're working harder than an average size woman whenever you work out (or just walk or go up the stairs), so everything you do is a cardiovascular workout. Your heart has to work hard every day to pump blood and get oxygen to all your organs. I read something about the extra MILES of blood vessels we have when we're obese. Miles!

I think you're in better shape than you realize. Take a 120 pound woman and strap 80 pounds on her, then the two of you work out together. Who's going to have more strength and endurance? You are! She probably couldn't even walk, let along swim and run and lift weights, carrying around all that extra weight.

Congratulations on the great number!

That brings up another question... Since blood vessels never go away... Does this mean even after we lost the weight we have to work harder to pump blood through our system? Maybe resulting in a higher HR during workouts for us formerly obese people, or will it eventually not matter?

I have a resting HR in the 50's and I have come to the conclusion that I am a plowhorse and not a gazelle. I can walk for an hour on the TM at 3 mph at a 7+% incline but don't ask me to run at 5mph for more than 2 min because I can't do it. I end up panting and out of breath, feeling like I just can't take another step.

My resting heart rate was in the 80's when I started my journey, but now it's 49/50 on a regular basis. Funnily enough hubby checked his last night and it's 70, and he was NOT happy because he said I'm obviously much fitter than him now lol.
I think your fitness changes pretty quickly when you start a regular exercise routine, and I'm definitely not complaining. Shows just how hard I do push myself as well when I do a hard workout, going from 49/50 resting I can push my heart rate up to 180 on occasion, but it quickly drops back again.

Loving-- that would be your Husbands AMBIENT HR, if he checked it last night after a day of activity. Resting HR can really only be accurately checked right after you wake up, BEFORE you get up t turn off alarm, or go to the bathroom, or whatever.
IF you guys are checking your HR while you are sitting on the couch not really moving, then thats your ambient HR.... At the DRs office, its going to be your ambient HR....

Ok-- then 50 is my ambient heart rate-- never checked it while lying in bed. Would it likely be higher then?

Meg-- I love that you think I'm fitter than I think! I still feel like that fat lady who gets red in the face and all out of breath.

LM-- My heart rate seems to max out in the 150s. But I'm pretty old, so I guess that's normal.

No, it should be lower than ambient

I checked mine first thing in the morning about two years ago, so I guess I need to check it again. I got a 45 ambient the other day and it startled me being that low.

I use workout videos and this is what I keep forgetting. 'If the instructor can do this move/exercise, why can't I?' Well, plop a 40lb weight on her back and see if she has trouble holding a plank, too.

LOL! So true, years ago 'right after one of the many times I've lost 70-80 lbs' I was grocery shopping with someone and walking with a 10lb bag of potatoes. At that time I had just finished losing 60 lbs without giving myself any credit for that massive achievement.

As I was switching hands because the bag was soooo heavy I realized "I've been carrying around the equivalent of 6 of these on my butt!!" I couldn't comprehend that I had been climbing up and down the stairs at home with so much weight on my body until that time. It was an eyeopener.

R.

my trainer made me do squats holding 30 pounds the other day-- and I was thinking "ha! bring it! I used to do squats carry more than 80 more pounds!"

I think there is also a genetic component to resting HR. Even at my heaviest and most out of shape (couch potato), my resting heart rate was still in the 60's. Now, just sitting here at the computer, it's 42. Goodness knows how low it goes when I'm sleeping, probably mid-30's. I should be dead.

Yes, I'm a distance runner, but that seems really low. But there you are.