February
2010
Working out with a Heart Rate Monitor
Exercising at the right heart rate intensity is key to meeting your fitness and performance goals. The first step is to calculate your maximum heart rate by using a formula based on age, or taking a sport-specific exercise assessment. The most common, but approximate way to calculate your maximum heart rate is 220 minus your age. If you exercise aerobically 3 or more times a week, you can use 205 minus half your age. But don’t workout at your maximum heat rate!
If you’re a beginner with goals of improving overall fitness, losing weight, or reducing stress, you’ll want to exercise in the healthy heart zone, which is 50-59% of your maximum heart rate. If you already exercise regularly and your goal is to lose body fat, the fat burning zone is 60-69% of your maximum heart rate.
You can find your heart rate manually by counting the number of beats (for 6 seconds) and adding a zero, which will give you the approximate reading that corresponds to the chart on the wall at Fast and Fit. According to the chart, the most effective fat burning zone is Zone 3 (yellow).
If you have difficulty finding your heart rate, consider using one of our demo heart rate monitors during your exercise or while you Zumba. Using a heart rate monitor is an excellent way to validate your heart’s performance and determine which machine you need to work harder (or lighter) on to maintain your heart rate. We have heart rate monitors for sale at Fast and Fit should you decide to purchase your own.