Heart rate monitors are an excellent way to promote cardiovascular fitness. Your heart rate is directly connected to the intensity level of your work out as your heart beats faster to pump more blood and oxygen to your working muscles. Combine the best heart rate monitors with your elliptical routine to get one of the most efficient low impact cardiovascular exercise available.
Types
There are two basic types of heart rate monitors that are used for fitness. Which type of monitor you choose depends on your own fitness needs. The two types are differentiated by the use of a chest strap. Heart rate monitors record your heart rate by using sensors which detect the electrical impulse emitted when your heart beats. Nearly all heart rate monitors use a watch-style wrist device that displays your heart rate in real time. Heart rate monitors with chest straps wirelessly transmit your heart rate information to the wrist device while those without chest straps measure your heart rate directly at the wrist. Monitors with chest straps are more accurate, but they are also more expensive and may cause irritation for some elliptical users.
Target Heart Rate
Most people who use elliptical machines are interested in cardiovascular fitness for weight loss or improved endurance, or both. One of the best ways to increase these facets of fitness is with your target heart rate range. Target heart rate range is considered to encompass the most efficient intensity level for your cardiovascular fitness. It is equal to 50 to 85 percent of your maximum heart rate, which is equal to 220 minus your age. For elliptical users who want to exercise in this range, the best heart rate monitor will have a feature that notifies you when your heart rate exceeds or drops below set values, which you can set before your workout based on your calculated target heart rate range.
Interval Training
Many elliptical machines have programs that are available to the user. These programs will often comprise various intensity levels over the course of a workout. Simulating hills and speed increases. In short, these programs offer different types of interval training, one of the most beneficial forms of cardiovascular exercise. The best heart rate monitors will help you complete you interval training with features that include timers and programming modes. A heart rate monitor that can track how long you have exercised at a given heart rate is the best for interval training on an elliptical.
Considerations
The best heart rate monitor for your elliptical training is the one that includes all the features you need and displays them in an easy to use way. While many elliptical machines come with integrated heart rate monitors on the handle bars, these monitors are not very accurate. Consider the feature sets that match with your normal fitness routine. If you generally do set times at set intensities, then a very basic heart rate monitor will be best for you. If you incorporate target heart rates and interval training, go for a feature rich monitor with a wireless chest strap.
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