What's the importance of monitoring your heart rate while exercising?

Question

I see exercise equipment that monitors your heart rate at the gym and am wondering how it benefits your workout. Is there a reason? Does it benefit your workout in any way?

Answer 1

Knowing your heart rate definately benefits your workout. Firstly, depending on your workout type, your heart rate would vary. It depends whether you are working out for weight management,aerobic conditioning(for better stamina & endurance) or advanced conditioning(training for sporting events like marathons,tennis etc).

For each of these cases, there is a lower and upper limit. The lower limit basically indicates that you have reached the region in which best results could be obtained. And upper limit indicating excessive work out which could result in injuries.

For weight management - The desired heart rate would be 60-70 percent of your max. heart rate. In this region,you would be able to burn off a substancial number of calories.

For aerobic conditioning & weight management - Desired heart rate is between 70-80 % of your max. heart rate. This would be the fat burning zone.

For advanced conditioning - Desired heart rate is 80% and above your max heart rate. This would be advisable for people who are already in top shape. This is also a fat burning zone.

Answer 2

For most people, the heart rate monitors on exercise machines are like a tachometer on a car with an automatic transmission, i.e., pointless.

All of the answers thus far contain errors and misconceptions common to people who haven't really trained with a HRM.

There are benefits to training, and even racing with a monitor, but for it to be useful, you have to spend a LOT of time with it figuring out what the numbers really mean to you personally. The generic numbers on the machines, and in most fitness books and articles aren't terribly useful.

First, you need to know your max heart rate. 220 minus your age is a generic approximation. Yours will be different. The only way to know is to go there. This is best done during a medically supervised stress test. Max heart rate is not trainable, it is what it is, and it gradually declines with age.

Next you need to know your lactate threshold, the point at which your cardiovascular system can't provide enough oxygen to your muscles, and they go anaerobic, beginning to build up lactic acid. For the average Joe, its around 80% of max, and in elite athletes, it can be trained as high as 95%. To get a precise figure, you need access to an exercise physiology lab, but its possible to get a reasonable approximation on your own.

All of the other "zones" are based on these two numbers. Ironically, beginners are most concerned about the "fat-burning" zone (typically 60-70% of max), but by the time you've done enough training to arrive at an accurate number for this zone, you're no longer fat.

Elite athletes use the various zones in planning and regulating their workout protocols.

If you have a serious interest in using a heart rate monitor, get Sally Edwards' Hear Rate Monitor Book. She does a great job showing you how to make the monitor an important tool in your training.

Answer 3

For me, it is good. I can gauge if i am becoming lazy, like when I read a magazine while biking and my heart rate is 128, I know I am not really putting my all into it, so I will try to pedal faster to get to 136 or whatever seems appropriate for whatever machine. It's unique for everyone.

Answer 4

some exercises raise your heart rate and by raising your rate, it's more beneficial of a work out

Answer 5

You want to keep your heart rate up so you burn more calories. If you heart rate drops below a certain point you are not burning as much.

Answer 6

if the heart is healthy there is no reason to monitor the BPM. staying at "x" heart-rate to stay in the fat burning zone is an antiquated and outdated method of performing cardio.

Answer 7

One reason - if you exercise at a heart rate that is too high - it may not be healthy at all... secondly - e. g. when running - your body burns more energy if you exercise at a low heart rate.