1. Monitor Your Motivation
Heart rate monitors have a chest strap transmitter and a wrist receiver. The wrist portion is often referred to as a heart rate monitor watch. There are electrodes on the chest strap. They touch your skin and monitor your heartbeat. The information is then sent to the wrist receiver, which displays the data. Heart rate monitors help you make the most of your workout because they teach you about your body, motivate you to push yourself during an aerobic activity and help you analyze your training efforts.
2. Check Out the Features
When choosing a heart rate monitor, it's really all about the features. The basic monitor is called a "continuous read" monitor. It's easy to use and pretty cheap to buy. You don't have to push any buttons; your heart rate displays in beats per minute. A heart rate monitor watch like this is perfect for beginners. The next step up are "zones" heart rate monitors. There are more features so you can program them to hold more data. You may want to program a count-down timer or recovery heart rate time, for instance. "Downloadable" monitors are more sophisticated. They allow you the chance to store and analyze various pieces of information. You can download it all onto your computer, too. "Downloadable" heart rate monitors are the most expensive.
3. Commit to It
Choose "continuous read" monitors if you want a heart rate monitor that's basic. It tells you one thing--how many times your heart beats per minute. But, if you want to use the monitor as a training tool or fat control technology, commit to one that's more high tech. Make sure you read the manual and set aside a week or so to learn how to use it and program it. Buy a "downloadable" heart rate monitor if you don't want to commit to training too much, but you want to train smart. By maximizing the benefits of your monitor, you'll get far more out of each workout.
4. Draw the Line
There are so many possible features on heart rate monitors that you need to know when to draw the line. A good idea is to start training with a relatively simple monitor, then graduate to a more complex unit as your training advances. Additional features of heart rate monitor watches include a sampling of heart rate intervals and the ability to log recovery time. Think about which features you'll want six months into your training and buy a monitor that meets those needs. It's okay if you don't use all the features today.
5. Get Bang for Your Buck
Heart rate monitors cost just about as much as a pair of athletic sneakers. You can research the benefits and features too much and end up never making a decision. Don't be afraid to ask a salesperson which heart rate monitor would best suit your needs. Once you buy one, make sure to read the manual and include the monitor in your life.
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