Heart rate monitors can be used in an array of training scenarios to guide and improve your overall fitness. These multifunctional devices enable you to select an optimal range so you don't work out too lightly or too vigorously and undermine the intent of your workout. By programming a monitor to your specific needs, you can use the feedback to design an effective training regimen conducive to your fitness level.
Gage Your Fitness Level
Resting heart rate -- which is generally between 60 and 80 beats per minute -- is generally lower in more physically fit people, according to the American Heart Association. The more physically fit your body is, the less effort it takes your heart to pump blood throughout your system at rest, thus providing an indication of your overall fitness level. Using a monitor allows you to gauge your optimal range during exertion to improve your body's efficiency while at rest.
Knowing Your Zones
Maximum heart rate -- the highest number of times your heart can contract in one minute -- is a tool to determine your training intensities. Keeping your heart rate between 70 to 80 percent of your maximum heart rate increases stamina and aerobic endurance, which is why it is considered the "improving fitness zone." Raising your heart rate upward of 80 to 90 percent of your maximum for extended periods of time is used for optimal physical conditioning. When maintaining a healthy heart and current weight is more your concern, keeping your heart rate between 60 to 70 percent should be your goal.
Your Personal Cheerleader
Throughout a training session, a heart rate monitor will alert you of pitfalls in the workout. During a run, while biking or an intense resistance workout, it will indicate if you are within the pre-programmed range so you do not overtax the body beyond a reasonable threshold. Exercising below a recommended intensity can also hinder fitness improvement.
Listen to Your Body
Although a heart rate monitor is popular tool for gauging and improving personal fitness, do not allow it to overshadow what your body tells during a workout. The monitor may have an acceptable reading for your activity even though you may feel winded, sluggish or as though your heart may pound right through your chest. Underlying medical conditions can also result in a compromised heart rate reading. Nevertheless, using your heart rate monitor as an aid rather than the final verdict in your workout can ensure the greatest advantage in your quest for fitness gains.
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