Heart rate monitor

[starter]

Do anyone out there own a heart rate monitor and if so can they please give me some tips for possible purchase.

Do you need the one with all the bells and whistles or is a cheaper one fine?

I have not been measuring my heart rate whilst training but have been doing some research and think I better start!!

Thanks

[annah]

Hi

My BF has the Polar M52 and I have an older one the Polar Edge which is about equiv to the Polar A1.

Mine does the basics just Hart Rate, Time in zone time and total time, it does the Job!

The M52 does this plus heaps more, calories burned, fitness tests, average Heat Rate, 2 person profile, time in zone, fat % burned.. blah blah blah.
He mainly uses time in zone and calories burned. He only chose that one because he it was for sale on E-Bay.

It all depends on how many bells and whistles you want to look at. The one I have does the job in-terms of heat rate and I do find it useful when exercising. (it keeps u moving!)

For more info on the different Models check out this web site
http://www.pursuit-performance.com.au/index1.htm

p.s. there are a few on e-bay for sale at the moment.

Cheers,

[starter]

Many Thanks, good idea about ebay will have a look now

[sanuk]

Hi Starter,

My HR monitor is my best friend. We are inseparable. I wear it every day (but I am doing 1 - 2 workouts a day at the moment, mostly in an aquatic environment) as a watch as well as a monitor.

I started with a HR monitor about 3 years ago. At the gym that I go to, they make everyone wear one during their workout so their trainers can get a feel for what's going on inside their bodies.

When I first started training my resting HR was 76! Not good for someone my age. It is now down around 49-50. (but then I was also about 13 - 15kg heavier then too!)

My first monitor had only a few functions: time, HR measurement (of course) and the ability to set in a high and low range to beep at me if I exceeded these ranges. This was not the base base base model, but I consider that if you are going to get a HR monitor this is what you need to start off with. Hell, if you don't get one with a time/watch function then you have to wear a watch as well to know how long you have been working out and you will only save yourself about $20. A-mart often has specials on monitors so keep your eye glued to the ads - should be able to get one around $120 - $140?

I think the range function is pretty important on the keto diet to make sure you don't go over 70% HR.

Now I have one with a few more bells and whistles but the main functions that I find useful in it is that I can recall a file of information on my workout that tells me how long I exercised for, what my max HR achieved was, what the average HR was for the session, and how long I spent exercising in my target ranges as well as the time spent above and below. My model cost around $260 but you can go all the way up to almost $1000 if you are a really serious athlete.

As for brands, I prefer Polar. I have found their service to be brilliant. I tried a Nike one but had to return it because it couldn't consistently pick up my HR (but could get my BF's and the shop assistants so I must have had too much body fat or something.)

Hope this helps!

Sanuk

[Rossana]

Hi Starter

I managed to pick up a cheap one and while I can't compare with other models, this one is basic but has a band that you put around your rib cage under your breast and then the "watch/monitor" that gives you the read out.

Sanuk is right, try to get one that tells the time if you wear a watch because going out with attachments on both wrists seems a bit stupid :rolleyes:

People are often surprised at how far off their ideal target zone they are - great tools but with everything, don't get too obsessive :)

[sanuk]

one other thing I feel about heart rate monitors......

I find their best use is to stop me from OVERtraining. If I go for a run I sometimes push myself way too hard, run till I feel sick, this gets my heart rate up into 80-90% or higher. Not only is this not great for fat burning, but it is even not good training for my sport which requires more endurance training. This heart rate is really only for sprinters or for interval training.

You will be surprised how easy exercise feels if you stay in 60 - 70%. And once you realise that you don't have to kill yourself everytime you go out to exercise, it becomes a LOT easier to motivate yourself to do it.