A heart rate monitor is composed of a watch-like, wrist-mounted unit with an accompanying chest strap that continuously monitors the rate of your heartbeat. You may be a person who would like to use a heart rate monitor for your daily workout, but are scared off by what seems to be complex technology. Fear not, for there are many easy-to-use heart rate monitors available that will allow to gauge your workout effort without suffering technological overload.
Why Use an HRM?
If you wonder why you should even use a heart rate monitor, or HRM, during your workout, then consider just how simple and effective it is to use. As Alex Sinha points out in his article on heart rate monitor training on Marathon Guide.com, using an HRM is much more accurate and easy to use than trying to take your pulse manually. If you attempt to stop during your workout, apply pressure to your carotid artery and count your heartbeat, your pulse slows down. With a HRM, there is no need to stop, so any heart rate information is continuous and accurate.
How To Use
While some of the HRM's have many functions, a basic, easy-to-use HRM may only offer only a continuous display of your current heart rate. This is the main information you need to gauge your workout effort. As Sinha notes, some HRMs will provide different heart rate zones, but you can establish this on your own zones by starting with your maximum heart rate. The standard max heart rate formula is subtracting your heart rate from 220 for men and from 226 for women. Once you know what your max heart rate is, you can figure out your effort level by watching the display of your current working heart rate.
Zones
The American Heart Association has established a Target Heart Rate chart that allows you to gauge your effort during exercise. Though rather broad-based, it is recommended that, according to age, you stay within 50 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate during exercise. The higher the percentage of your max heart rate, the harder your effort. In an article on HRM usage by Rice University, 70 to 90 percent is considered the aerobic zone, a hard effort during your workout. Again, this is all information you can easily remember as you monitor your display of your current heart rate on your basic, easy-to-use HRM.
Basic HRM Features
While Sinha notes there are many different HRMs available, the HRM that is the most accurate consists of a chest strap containing a sensor and transmitter, and a watch-like display for easy use. Using an HRM with a chest strap to monitor your heartbeat is the most accurate because it is obtaining your heart rate right from the source as it is mounted over your heart. Sinha also says that a basic HRM can cost as little as $50, as of November 2010.
Easy To Use
Using a heart rate monitor does not need to be a challenging or difficult experience and is an excellent way to tell just how hard you are exercising. With a basic HRM providing a display of your current heart rate, and a knowledge of simple heart rate zones, you should have no problem in making progressive, healthy strides in your exercise programs.
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