Cardio intensity - do I have it right?

nancy324

nancy324

Cathlete
I'm 51 years old (next week) and think my resting pulse is about 60. I did the calculations and determined that 75% to 85% of my "heart rate reserve" is 135-153 BPM. I usually stay in this range for about 40 mins. at a time when doing cardio.

I've noticed that many on these boards talk about sweating alot, but I don't seem to sweat very much at all. My skin is too sensitive for anti-perspirants, so I just use a deodorant, but I've never noticed any wet spots on my workout clothes, and my skin barely even gets damp.

Am I a cardio wimp? I guess I'm an advanced exerciser, but I'm no athlete. Should I be exceedingly 85% of my HRR? What do you hardcore cardio lovers (or haters :p) do?

Thanks!
Nancy
 
Hey Nancy- I have no idea about the "heart rate" & what range you are supposed to stay in, etc... Way too complicated for me to bother with, I figure as long as I'm working out, good enough!

However, regarding the sweating. I heard somewhere (can't remember where) that the more in shape you are the quicker you will sweat. Sweating is the body's natural cooling system & the more in shape you are the quicker your cooling system kicks in. I know I sweat a ton more now working out than I did when I started.

You are advanced though so doesn't really make sense for you...maybe you are just one of those people who don't sweat much...Lucky you!:)
 
Jen, maybe that's it! Maybe I'm not as advanced as I think I am because I don't exercise nearly as much as I should. Even when I was exercising much more, I still didn't exercise 5x-6x per week like so many here. That may explain it.
Nancy
 
Nancy, I do not pay attention to the HR thing. I used to use a HR monitor. But the darn thing beeped at me when ever I went out of my zone. Well, apparently what it thinks is my zone and what I think are two different things LOL!! It would alarm when I was just getting warmed up. I really like high intensity (not necessarily high impact) and my HR gets way up there but I am still able to function based on perceived exertion. So who knows?? I guess I am no help!!

Catherine

http://bestsmileys.com/exercising/1.gif
 
Hi Nancy. I really think we all sweat differently. I run with a friend who is about 54 (I am 48) and I will be completely drenched after about 8 miles and she looks fine!!! She is very small and petite and IMO looks in better shape than me so who the heck knows! And also some of us here are cardio obsessive....kinda like me...:)....Do what makes you feel good and don't worry about the sweat as trust me, it can be embarrassing...
 
Catherine, LOL! You have to set the target zone on the HRM. If you don't, it will assume you're a beginner and beep at you all the time! :7
I know those things aren't easy to set, so I just mute it instead.
Nancy
 
Thanks, Carole. Maybe sweat indicates nothing meaningful.

Carole, what do you think of my target HR goals? Do they sound on track to you or am I playing it too "safe"? I know how knowledgable you are. Thanks!
Nancy
 
Nancy...I think it depends on the goals of your body that you are looking for. You target HR seems fine. Some people want to burn more fat and intervals at a higher intensity (HR) are good for that. I pay more attention to my HR when trying to get faster running. If you are satisfied with yourself don't worry about your HR, just have fun...:)
 
Thanks, Carole. I just got back from the gym and noticed that the back of my neck and my bra are damp. My WO clothes are dry because they fit loosely and are made of wicking fabric. So, I do sweat somewhat.

I don't know how much fat I need to lose. Probably not a whole lot? I'm more interested in staying strong and healthy and aging as slowly as possible. :p So I guess I'm okay the way I am. Thanks for your input! :D
Nancy
 
Hi Nancy

Just a thought but do you sweat easily at other times? (Not getting too personal here!)I would imagine it's got more to do with how your body reacts to heat, exercise, etc. rather than the intensity.

When I first started working out I used to sweat like a pig doing quite simple stuff and now three years later doing Cathe DVDs I still sweat like a pig! (It's a good thing I work out at home! I used to get embarrassed using gym equipment!)

I wouldn't worry too much - everyone's body works differently.

Ronne:)
 
Hi Nancy, I perspire/sweat/glisten profusely and worked out and taught in gyms for years. I had many a discussion with other participants about this. I would walk out of a class looking like someone poured a bucket of water over me while others who worked as hard barely had a glow in their cheeks, lots of people were somewhere in the middle. One day as a friend and I were leaving a class I said to her that I wished I could leave looking as fresh as she did. She said she wished she could sweat like I do as she would get so hot working out and feel prickly under her skin. She said that on the rare occasion that she broke a sweat it felt like a huge relief. Right now my family is in the same house, they are wearing sweaters and I am in short sleeves, my internal heater works very well, always has but that's just me. The physiology of sweating is a complicated thing with many variable like diet and heredity and is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. Monitoring intensity with things like your rate of repiration, the 'talk test' and HR are much more objective than the amount you sweat which is subjective from person to person IMHO :)

Take Care
Laurie:)
 
Hi - just wanted to say that I wear a HR monitor all of the time. I started wearing one, as I wanted to make sure I was pushing hard enough. Now that I know I am, I wear it more to make sure I try to vary my HR ranges for different cardio sessions, as I've read it's important to do that to keep your body from getting accustomed to the cardio. I also need it when doing Cardio Coach for the different percentage range and now I don't even like working out without it. I guess I'm addicted to my HR Monitor! You just seem to get too used to it.

I wouldn't worry about sweating......everyone is different.
 
Ronne, I rarely sweat, no matter the activity. :D

I think you're right, Laurie. There's no telling what causes these things. I'm often hot, and my DH is usually cold, but he sweats easily and I hardly sweat at all.

Does the educated crowd think that staying with 75%-85% of heart rate is about right? I was at 85% today, and wasn't sure that I would be able to talk easily. AmyG, the Certified Personal Trainer and Bootcamp Instructor, are you out there? ;)
Nancy
 
I do not sweat that much in the Winter, even during my workouts. But, when the summer gets here and the humidty comes into play, watch out!!!
 
Nancy,

I never used to sweat but since I started Cathe, I sweat all the time. I just did Step Blast this morning on an 8" step. My heart rate really goes high when I'm on 8". My average HR was 82%. By the end of the 1st and 2nd combo, my heart rate went to 93%. The third combo, it went to 96% and on the blasts, it also went to 96%. Sometimes I stop between combos to let my HR go down, otherwise it would probably go over 100. That happened during IMAX 3. I think staying between 75%-85% is fine. Once you start getting into the 90s, it's hard to stay there for too long a period of time.

Marcy
 
Nancy ..

I think everyone is different .. as Laurie was saying. Some very fit people rarely sweat .. some very fit people sweat profusely.

Some people actually don't have sweat glands .. and if this is the case (which does not sound like it is with you) .. if you can't sweat .. you can't cool your body off .. and run the risk of fainting or passing out (had a friend like this) ..

I for one sweat like a maniac .. so does my TINY SIL .. now there are times I may do the same routine and sweat bucket loads .. then time when I do the same routine and not sweat much at all. This probably has to do with the humidity in the air .. and the hydration in my body .. salt consumtion .. alcohol consumption all play a part in how badly we sweat.

As far as heart rate goes I think you are in a good range. There are varying opinions on how high/hard you should push your heart rate. I don't recommend getting hung up on a number .. your "number' could vary ... or your perfect number may not be what works for someone else .. and vice versa.

I think a better way of measuring how effeciently you are working is percieved exertion. On a scale from one to ten .. one being basically being still no exertion at all .. and ten being as hard as you possibly could push yourself .. maxed out. And unless you are doing interval training .. once warmed up .. you should work somewhere in the 6 - 8 zone .. think of it like this . . you should be able to talk to someone but very breathy .. certainly should not be able to sing! LOL

HTH ,,,,
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Our Newsletter

Get awesome content delivered straight to your inbox.

Top