Can you explain about target heart rate...

[joditoad1974]

I dont understand this, why is it important, and how do you know what your target is? I am 5'5 152 lb....how would I know mine? My resting heart rate is 82. I know when I go to the YMCA..they have the heart rate monitors, and when I am walking on the treadmill, on my incline Mine goes up to 140-150ish. Is this good? I am just a little confused and dont completely understand why this is important, and where my heart rate should be. Any suggestions?

joanna

 

[materialsgirl]

Here's a decent primer article on heart rate training:
http://exercise.about.com/cs/cardioworkouts/a/ex_intensity.htm

The best way to find your max heart rate is to do an actual stress test, but most people don't want to do this (because it ain't fun). A lot of people use the formula 220-your age, but it's pretty much worthless because your max heart rate is genetically determined and the relationship to age is not truly linear. Some people (like me) have really high max HRs. Some people have really low max HRs. There are other formulas that are better, but can still be off quite a bit. Short/small women tend to have higher max HRs than other people, but it's just a generalization. (I am also 5'2")

Here's an article about the training zones:
http://www.brianmac.demon.co.uk/hrm1.htm

This should help you get a basic understanding of the whole heart rate thing. If you don't want to worry about it, your best bet is to just use the perceived exertion test, or the talk test, to know if you are working within the proper zone.

Hope this helps!