| Exercising without monitoring and adjusting your | | | | you'll find your BPM will slow down for performing |
| effort won't be enough to get you an optimum | | | | the same duration of exercise. This is what you |
| workout - so let a heart rate monitor watch be | | | | want, but if you only focus on duration then this |
| your trainer. | | | | impedes you progressing and getting fitter. But if |
| Like everything else in the 21st century life gets | | | | you aim for achieving the same heart BPM for |
| more complicated each year... and exercise has | | | | the duration as you get fit then you'll need to tax |
| not been spared from this thirst for specialization. | | | | your body more and thus keep progressing. |
| Now we have aerobics and cardio workouts along | | | | BENEFIT #1: A heart rate monitor puts you in, |
| with calisthenics and exercises on equipment that | | | | and lets you stay in, your ideal workout zone. |
| can feedback instantly how fast your heart is | | | | It's said very few people who start exercising are |
| beating - actually, that's good progress as you'll | | | | still doing it after six months. Much of this is due |
| see. | | | | to not seeing the progress expected and so |
| But whatever happened to slipping on some | | | | de-motivation happens and exercising stops. |
| jogging shoes and running for an hour? | | | | It takes four to six weeks of regular exercising |
| Well, we realized - and I love to jog - that long | | | | before you notice changes in your physical |
| slow durational exercise is not so good for you. | | | | appearance, but internally things are changing day |
| The human body isn't designed to run for miles | | | | one. Your BPM provides the window into your |
| and miles everyday without eventually breaking | | | | improvement before you see it externally. A |
| down. And mine did. Ouch! | | | | slower pulse at rest, and a quicker return to your |
| On the other extreme there is the interval regime | | | | at rest pulse rate after exertion, are all indicators |
| that has us pushing our target heart beats | | | | you're making progress internally. |
| towards 90%-95% of maximum for long intense | | | | BENEFIT #2: A HRM shows your real progress |
| bursts of explosive energy. But this is also a | | | | and keeps you motivated. |
| problem for our major organs that can be | | | | With all the different types of workouts you can |
| weakened or damaged over time under this kind | | | | now do to get those film star bodies we can |
| of duress. | | | | easily fall into the trap of taking things too far and |
| For those of us that want to see steady | | | | putting ourselves at risk of injury. You know how |
| progression towards getting fit and need | | | | easy it is to get energized and convince yourself |
| reinforcement we are on the right track to keep | | | | you can do an extra minute at a demanding |
| motivated then there is the heart rate monitor | | | | workout pace. |
| (HRM). This lightweight device measures our heart | | | | But if you know your target heart zone then a |
| beat and sends it to the watch's display. Most | | | | heart rate monitor alarm can be set to remind |
| HRM devices come with a chest strap that | | | | you when you leave that zone and enter the "at |
| transmits the beats per minute (BPM) to the | | | | risk" zone, so you can back off and stay injury |
| watch. | | | | free. |
| A HRM is common on modern gym equipment | | | | BENEFIT #3: A heart rate monitor keeps you |
| but you can't take a treadmill down to the track - | | | | safe. |
| so a heart rate monitor watch and strap is an | | | | My own exercise workout is based on Dr Al |
| easy and flexible alternative. | | | | Sears PACE: Fitness Revolution program and I've |
| It's one of those devices that'll take a few uses | | | | found a heart rate monitor ensures I get an |
| to get comfortable with the operation while | | | | effective and safe workout from any of the |
| exercising, but once it becomes a habit, you'll not | | | | individual training sessions included in the program. |
| want to leave home without it. | | | | But a HRM device will help with any fitness |
| Our heart BPM is the best indicator to us we are | | | | program you decide to use. |
| getting an appropriate workout. As you get fit | | | | |