Do I need a heart rate monitor??

[kandeycane]

hey guys

I was just wondering if any of you use a heart rate monitor and if so .. what kind ? Is this a necessary tool for successful fitness or weightloss..or is it an expense i can do without. i am going shopping tommorow and am seriously considering purchasing one.. any feedback would be greatly appreciated.. thanks
Candy

 

[sunsetbeach]

I use a heart rate monitor and it has really helped my workouts. I used to hate cardio because I didn't like that feeling of my heart racing fast and not knowing how hard I should push it. I think it has helped me psychologically to get over the fear of dropping dead!!I guess I've become more fatalistic in my forties!I like the monitor also because it lets you know precisely how many calories you have burned and how long you have trained in your target zone. It is also nice to see how your recovery time improves as your fitness level increases. I use the Polar T31 and have been very happy with it. I received it the Mother's Day before last and use it whenever I do cardio. I guess I'd better go upstairs, strap it on and burn up that Grand Slam breakfast (onyu $2.99 at Dennys)I ate this morning.;-)

 

[Aquajock]

RE: No

IMHO, you do not need a heart rate monitor, and it is not a necessary tool for successful fitness and weight loss. I think if you are able to calculate your personal heart rate training zone (that factors in your resting heart rate as well as your age), AND if you are able to connect your training zone heart rate to your rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and the Talk Test (to get a better feel for your oxygen uptake and exchange) that's far better than a monitor.

Also IMHO, strict heart rate is overemphasized as a method of determining your cardiovascular work zone. One should not only pay attention to the speed of the heart beats, but also the STRENGTH of the heart beats; a fast but thready pulse (which can result from dehydration, overly hot/humid workout environment, among other causes) is gonna do you no good. It's total cardiac output that gives you a better idea of how much oxygen-rich blood is being delivered to the working muscles, and cardiac output is a product of heart rate PLUS stroke volume (the amount of blood going through the vessels with each beat). It's impossible to measure actual stroke volume without expensive equipment, so just focus on a good THUD feel with each beat.

Also pay attention to your breathing: you should be able to talk briefly while in your training zone but NOT be able to sing. (Trust me on that one.) Also, follow the Rating of Perceived Exertion checks Cathe now employs on her cardio workouts - people are amazingly accurate in self-determining how hard they're working.

Just my $.02 . . .

Annette

 

[naughtoj]

RE: No

Heart Rate Monitors have their value, but for Cathe workouts I don't even put it on. Do I have to??? Hard to imagine anyone not in their "zone" (65-85%maxhr) doing a Cathe cardio tape. However, I like using it sometimes for other workout videos, just for the comparison or when I go hiking, just to remind me of what a kick %#! workout I am getting. But unless you are REALLY interested, they get kinda old on an everday basis. My husband, who works out much less than me, loves it. He won't go without it. It serves as a major source of motivation for him and whatever works, right???

I have a monitor that calculates the total cals and fitness bullets and some other really cool stuff but I never concerned myself with how to work that part. I go for the beats per minute only. They are fun to have, as a "toy", and sure can't have too many of those, right??? Janice