Target Heart Rate??

[trixie108]

So I calculated my max heart rate (195), so according to the rule of thumb, my target heart rate is 146, correct? (75% of my max heart rate)? Ok, that is absolutely insane!! When I'm doing a hard cardio workout, my hr will get up to 180! How important (or not) is it to stay within your target heart rate? 146 is absolutely unrealistic for me, I would barely break a sweat!!!

 

[LauraMax]

That sounds about right. The fitness mgr at my gym told me HR during steady state cardio should be in the 140s, & in 160s during intervals. 180 sounds really really high to me.

I think it's important so you don't have a heart attack! I'm hoping you have a defective HRM.........

 

[shoe]

I would think 180 is too high. I am overweight and on my hike last week, carrying a 30 pound pack up an extremely steep incline my heart rate only got to 171. I thought I was going to die !!!!

 

[breezy]

I have the same dilemma as you as my heart rate spikes upon exertion (I am 46). When I had a fitness test done in our cardiac rehab center (as part of a fitness challenge...I am an office worker in a hospital), they couldn't complete the test as I reached my maximum heart rate of 174 (according to calculations) before the test was complete (a doctor is required to be present to go over the maximum heart rate so I really don't know what MY maximum heart rate is.). It totally frustrated me as I know I was probably the most fit person they had tested. I had just begun to exert myself and she had to stop the test. The girl giving me the treadmill test (an exercise physiologist and cardiac specialist) says that her heart rate does the same thing...spikes upon exertion (she is 26). I have done some research on the internet and haven't yet found an answer as to why this happens to some people. My resting heart rate is normal at 60 or less and it recovers very quickly after exertion. Anyway, I don't have anything to offer but just wanted to let you know that there are a few of us who have the same problem. I just use the talk test to rate my exertion levels and ignore my heart rate since it's not a reliable indicator for me of how hard I am working. Otherwise, I'd never break a sweat either or improve.

 

[jodijodi]

Laura's numbers sound about right to me. I'm usually around 145-155 during steady state, and get up to about 165 during intervals, with the occasional spike to 170. (Everyone is different, of course, but 180 does sound high.)

 

[amyg]

My max HR is listed at around 195 as well and has been for the past few years. I'm 31. I typically can run a number of miles at 168 if I'm dogging it. When I step it's more like 155-170 and intervals at home I'll be around 175. If I'm sprinting, 180-185 is about where I am.

If I'm power walking or something like it around the block for a warmup, I rarely hit 125-- more like 110. When I'm around the house just doing house stuff, I'm 65-90.

Can you tell I wear my HRM a lot?? LOL. I even wore it at Disneyland, thinking for sure the rides would make my HR go up!! Too bad, nothin. (Can't justify the cotton candy that way...)

HTH

 

[meowracer]

Shoot - on the treadmill with hills, or the stepmill at a good pace, mine will stay in the 170s and can go up to 180s at times. My heart just does that. I've had it checked thoroughly by an excellent cardiologist here in Houston, and he said that I had a great heart, and was in great shape. With the treadmill test, they got tired of waiting for it to reach the target heart rate, but that was at 2.5 mph, I think it was. I bought my HRM so that I didn't go overboard with the cardio and count on it being in the 160s to 170s during something like CC challenges, then back it down to 140's or 150s during steady state. It does come back down quickly, and never goes above my point that I know is enough.