Best Heart Rate Monitor – Best Heart Rate Monitor For Running – Choosing One That Suits You
Help I need to know what the best heart rate monitor is for running.
Not sure exactly what a heart rate monitor does? The monitor comes in two different parts: a chest belt detects your heart rate and transmits it to a receiver on your wrist, which looks like a watch. It’s a useful addition to any runner’s kit because it provides an accurate reflection of how hard you’re exercising – our own guesses are usually unreliable and mean that we can all too easily end up running faster or slower than is good for us.
Have you been considering buying a heart rate monitor and been confused with the mountain of information and the many different types of monitor that are available. Listed below are the main types of monitor available.
Simple, easy and low cost These monitors are the simplest to operate and least expensive to buy. The displays are big and easy to read. In many cases these heart rate monitors also include a stopwatch and time of day. If you want a basic starter monitor this is the one to choose, these heart rate monitors will work for any of the following activities, swimming, walking, aerobics, cycling,
The next step up is multi purpose heart rate monitor and sports wristwatch. These will generally have the following features as standard Target Zone, Time, and Heart Rate These monitors combines a sports wristwatch with a hear rate monitor. You can pre install your exercise Target Zone, display the time of day and also use it as a stop watch. Many models will calculate exercise recovery time. You can wear these heart rate monitors as sports wrist watches when you aren’t exercising. These monitors are very popular due to the features and functions.
The more advanced monitors will include features such as a Memory facility to review Workouts & Calories BurnedThe calorie calculation is based on your body weight, gender and exercise heart rate Some models display calories burned during exercise session or total calories burned for the entire exercise session. All of these monitors have time of day and most include calendars. These monitors are ideal for some one on a weight loss work out program.
Next comes the monitors that can give advanced exercise feedback. This information is saved in the memory of the monitor and can be reviewed after your work out.This type of monitor gives you lots of information of your workout that are stored in the heart rate monitor memory. This includes: average heart rate lap times, time spent in,above,below your target zone and in some cases calories burned. Most of these memory heart rate monitors also have interval timers so you can really fine-tune your workouts. This type of heart rate monitor is excellent for looking back at your completed workouts and keeping track of your progress.
Moving on to the heart rate monitors that can give you optimum results. The information gathered during a work out will be downloaded to a computer.These heart rate monitors allow you to download the information to a computer to review and analyse your exercise sessions. Exact training info for amateur and professional athletes, or for any one interested in storing and analysing their exercise information. You can also manually recall the data on the face of the watch.
As an Orange County Boot Camp Instructor, I know that interval training has been used by top physical trainers and athletes for quite a long time now.
The main “science” behind interval training says that by mixing short bursts of high intensity work with lower intensity stretches that allow the body to cool down somewhat, you’re simultaneously overloading the aerobic and anaerobic systems.
With interval training, you thus get the benefits of aerobic and anaerobic training at one and the same time.
There are other benefits of interval training, too. It’s more difficult to become injured through this practice, because the high-intensity anaerobic periods don’t last that long and the body gets sufficient recovery time between them, and you are listening to your body more acutely.
There is also less chance of developing nerve-wracking (even though usually harmless) conditions like heart arrhythmia because during the aerobic cooldown you are still working out, keeping your heart rate elevated and the blood oxygenated, so that the body remains “used to” being physically active above the norm.
Finally, for people who tend to get bored with working out and so drop their training regimen, interval training is more mentally stimulating because of its constant change-up…and, they can maximize their health benefits in a shorter workout.
HOW TO BEGIN WITH INTERVAL TRAINING
You begin a day of interval training the same way you begin any other workout day. You begin your workout slowly, gradually building up to a more intense level to allow your muscles and heart to get warmed up.
Using a heart-rate monitor or by closely checking your pulse for fifteen seconds at a time, try to keep your heart at an elevated but not 100% of your normal maximized increased rate (about 70% is good) for five minutes. Once you have achieved this plateau, you are warmed up enough to go for a burst of high-intensity activity.
This “high intensity” is relative to what you have been doing for the last five minutes and your level of physical fitness, just like your heart rate is. If you have been jogging, launch into a “check out”, that is pick up the pace so that you are running at a long-distance race pace. If you have been running, break into a full-on sprint, going as fast as you possibly can.
Now, don’t worry that you won’t be able to maintain this full-on 100% level for very long; you aren’t supposed to. The whole point of this anaerobic burst is to wear out and even break down your muscles so that they are forced to eliminate toxins such as lactic acid (the “burn” that you feel), open up your lungs to their total capacity (which eventually opens up even more alveoli, the tiny web-like network of air sacs), and make your heart swell to allow maximum blood flow.
Your muscles will quickly become much less flexible, and won’t be able to contract well. Remember: this is normal and is the very effect you are going for.
Pay close attention to your body as you are “bursting”. As soon as you feel you have pushed yourself to the limit and you have “hit a wall”, gradually slow down. Do NOT stop or just walk; this will lose much of the anaerobic benefit and “psyche you out” (and, although this is VERY UNLIKELY to happen, it’s possible to induce a heart attack by suddenly going from 100 to near 0). But gradually slow yourself back down to the pace you were maintaining just before your burst.
Your body once again becomes able to efficiently exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen, and it will begin rapidly feeding nutrients to your depleted muscles to repair them (the breaking down and re-building of muscles is actually what causes them to become leaner and stronger; you have to go through Hell to get to Heaven, as they say).
Do this pattern repeatedly for at least 30 minutes.
KEEP ON KEEPING ON
As you continue your interval training, you’ll find yourself able to sustain your 100% bursts longer; your speed during these times will increase; and even your aerobic pace will be faster and you’ll be able (and wanting to) sustain it even longer than 30 minutes. Let this happen and push yourself to new heights over time, but BE CAREFUL. Listen very closely to your body and make sure you eat highly nutritious foods, stretch well, and remain hydrated.
Pushing yourself to these extremes is, frankly, potentially dangerous. But if you build up gradually and take care of yourself you have little to worry about.
Interval training breaks down and rebuilds your muscles so that they are burning calories at a high level even when you are asleep. Your metabolism increases. Your breathing gets better and your blood is more oxygenated at all times, so you have more energy and mental benefits like increased concentration.
As an Orange County Boot Camp Instructor, I know that this is good advice, and you’ll see results really fast! You’ll feel more self-confident. And, your workouts are not monotonous. Your muscle tone increases dramatically and you get a sleek, well-moving body.
Copyright (c) 2009 Steve Hochman
About The Author
Steve Hochman has created Orange County Boot Camps to make you 10X stronger, leaner and more toned! To get a FREE 2 week boot pass to Orange County’s hottest Boot Camp go to http://www.fitbodybootcamp.com/fit-body-boot-camp-rancho-santa-margarita
Elliptical Equipment
As far as the home gym market goes you may have notice that gym equipment can be very enjoyable when used in a home environment. Elliptical is a term used to indicate elliptical emotion. You may have seen this term used on various gym equipment review articles in your local newspaper or on television. The principle behind it is that the equipment repeats one motion over and over in order to simulate a human action such as walking and running. Two common pieces of equipment which generally falls into this same category include the stair climber and the rowing machine.
People generally find that elliptical equipment represents an enjoyable and effective means of getting yourself back in shape while benefiting your heart with an increased heart rate during the duration of your exercise period. Some gym equipment is designed to provide a full figure work out boasting your health and wellbeing. These various elliptical gym equipment units can be a life saver for those who experience painful joints. If you have physical damage to your joints it can not be stressed enough that you try to use this equipment to stimulate your muscles and put your body back in shape again.
It is not unusual to locate various personal reviews concerning elliptical equipment but be cautioned that when you are studying these reviews you should ensure that they cover everything concerning the machine from the design to the warranty.
Elliptical exercise equipment remains the foremost means of getting you body in good physical condition. There are several things you can do to shape up. If you happen to need this kind of conditioning then elliptical equipment made specifically for improving your physical health is just the treatment that you require.
How to get the Full Body Workout
The particular elliptical equipment is selected by the individual who has completed the proper research and is satisfied with the end results of their efforts. They know how and when this equipment can help their overall body workout program and they look forwards to seeing the results. When using the trainer and the enclosed weights you can workout not only your arms but your complete body, all at the same time. This is due principally because the trainer has been designed to allow the us
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er to utilize the trainer in many different ways during the same exercise session. Nowadays people don’t have time for elaborate training sessions so this machine makes for the ideal exerciser in today’s fast moving world. Now you can feel great and look your best with little effort in no time at all so take some time out, and review the elliptical equipment that is currently available on the market.
By: Marlon Dirk
Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com
These elliptical exercise machines offer you a low-impact exercise program. This can give the best tips and guides on how to maximize the full potential of elliptical exercises program at ellipticalfitnessabc.com
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