Some history: I've always been guility of doing too much cardio. Even when following a rotation, I always addes extra cardio for fear that I would gain weight. I had begun to feel worn out and knew if I didn't make a change (I've been doing this for over 10 years) I was going to either get an injury or ruin my enthusiasm for exercise. I did 2 months of the January rotation followed by two months of the July rotation, following them exactly. The results have been incredible and restored my enthusiasm. I have been doing less cardio than before and including more rest days. Visually, my body responded well-weight loss and increased definition; my legs didn't bulk like they always tended too either. BUT I have noticed a big change in my heart rate. I used to struggle to keep it above 136, but now find the same workouts raise it into the 150's and 160's. Doesn't this mean I am actually less cardio-vascularly fit? I should also add, that due to a very upsetting seperation and pending divorce, I have been "heart-sick" in the stomache and not eating as well as I usually do, and have been under a lot of stress. Can these factors be part of the equation as well? And should I be concerned or just satisfied with the visual improvements? Also, and I will probably make a seperate post, but does anybody have any suggestions for a support group online for divorce? Thanks in advance for your help.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Big change in heart rate since doing less cardio/more weights (?)
- Thread starter chloesmom
- Start date
CathydsRNA
Cathlete
How much cardio are you doing? The fact that your heart rate is going up higher doing the same workouts suggests that you have lost some cariovascular fitness. For myself I get acclimated to the same cardio workout very quicky ( my heart rate is higher the first couple of times I do a specific cardio routine and then I get used to it and I have a much lower heart rate when I perform the same workout again) and I find that I have to rotate my cardio-workouts frequently. Having a variety of cardio type workouts and using the premixes and Mix and match features on Cathe's DVDs helps prevent me from getting acclimated to the same workout. Cathe had a great article on the home page (don't know if its still there) that addresses increased heart rate during strength training but why that can't be construed as cardivascular training. Can't help with the support group but my best wishes are with you and I know that taking care of yourself will help you through your ordeal.
Hi,
I'm also quite a cardio junkie, and I tend to overdo my cardio frequently..., much in fear of gaining weight too. What I've noticed is that when I really overdo my cardios (start feeling fatigued etc.) my heartrate seems to respond by not rising as high as normally during a workout. I've taken it to be that my body is just "too tired" to respond to the demands of exercise because it really seems that no matter how hard I try, my heartrate just won't respond. This is also when a workout usually feels quite strenuous, and you just can't get "into it" like when you're having a good workout. In a good workout it seems like the heart responds very quickly to changing demands.
I don't know if this is really what happens, but thought I'd share my thoughts anyway as your situation sounded so familiar. I just ordered Sally Edward's book on heartzone training, I'm hoping this will answer some of my questions also.
I really wish you strength and courage to deal with the difficult issues in your life right now, and hope you can find all the needed support!
Maria
I'm also quite a cardio junkie, and I tend to overdo my cardio frequently..., much in fear of gaining weight too. What I've noticed is that when I really overdo my cardios (start feeling fatigued etc.) my heartrate seems to respond by not rising as high as normally during a workout. I've taken it to be that my body is just "too tired" to respond to the demands of exercise because it really seems that no matter how hard I try, my heartrate just won't respond. This is also when a workout usually feels quite strenuous, and you just can't get "into it" like when you're having a good workout. In a good workout it seems like the heart responds very quickly to changing demands.
I don't know if this is really what happens, but thought I'd share my thoughts anyway as your situation sounded so familiar. I just ordered Sally Edward's book on heartzone training, I'm hoping this will answer some of my questions also.
I really wish you strength and courage to deal with the difficult issues in your life right now, and hope you can find all the needed support!
Maria
Thank you so much! I know exactly what you mean about exerting as much as you can and barely raising your heart rate. I'm not necessarily complaining, I mean, my workouts are more enjoyable b/c they are not so much work and they are shorter than I used to force myself to do, and I am definately thinner and more cut, but I'm curious aobut it. I think I'll check out that book.
Thanks again.
Jenna
Thanks again.
Jenna
You're very welcome. Yes, I'd really like to learn more about these things too, I'm hoping the book is good. Though sometimes I think surprisingly little is known about the human body and many fitness related issues, and in a lot of things you just have to trust your own feelings about them. What I have read elsewhere too though is that when your body is overly tired your heartrate can respond two ways: either it jumps overly high from minimal exertion (isn't that the more classic symptom of overtraining?), or then it is hard to even get to rise (like in our case). I don't know if that's really researched factual info, but at least someone else has noticed these sort of responses too, which made me feel a little better.
Maria
Maria