I bought a heart rate monitor with a chest strap to go with a fitness program but am not quite sure how to use it best.
First, where does the chest strap go exactly? The instructions just said below your chest muscles, but I do not know exactly where those are. I’m pretty lanky with a bony chest – does it just go across where your heart is? (Pretty much where you wear a bra) or does it go lower off the bone (sternum I believe).
Second, I’m unsure about the heart rate I should shoot for. I think the instructions said 160 or 170 maybe for someone my age (21), but that seems so low. I dont really start to get tired and worn out on the treadmill until it is 180-190. If I want to keep it below 170 I have to put it on a really slow speed (one I hardly have to jog on). I don’t feel that I am THAT out of shape that I cannot even jog at a slow pace… Also when I was doing pushups it would start beeping (near 170 I think), but I didn’t feel like my hr was that fast and wasn’t tired.
It needs to have the ability to upload heart rate info on a comp without having to buy something extra.
and must use/come with a chest strap (if thats possible)
Price i’m willing to pay up to ~120
I bought a timex one yesterday thinking the thing came with it, but it is an extra 80 bucks to be able to upload data, which is unacceptable to me.
well, I have purchased items on ebay before and other online stores, and have had a less than desirable experience. since the official polar site is very expensive, can anyone recommend a fairly decent priced but more than anything trust site that sells polar heart rate monitors? thanks
Looking to start exercising using a heart rate moniter to keep myself in my target heart rate zone. However i tried a heart moniter watch and it never beeped or gave me any numbers until AFTER my workout which i find pretty pointless. In fact to read my heart rate i had to stop and hold my finger on a button, bullox to that! Im looking for a moniter that activly reads my heart rate WHILE im exercising and gives me numbers i can read during my run without stopping. Having it beep when im over or under would be nice too. Im not picky if it has a chest strap or not im just wondering how the battery life would be on that. If anyone reccomends a specific brand or model im welcome to hear it.
Ok just stumbled onto a Polar: RS200, seems to have the features "active audiable and visual target zones" (not sure if thats during or after information, as my other watch said the same thing.) 9.00 is a little steep, 0 is my max budget.
@ silverbullet , ya i bought a cheap Sportsline S12, only records info to see later, not really "ideal". Went to your link the Axiom HR 306 Heart Rate Monitor looks great and for .99 thats not bad, thanks.
i can run fast like in 100m=15secs but when i do it infront of everybody else my heart rate go’s up and i feel tense and only get 18secs for 100m.
How do i feel confidnet when like 200 people are watching me
I want one I can use while in motion & continuous feedback would be great (so I guess it would have to have the chest strap). Calories burned and a stop watch feature would also be good. Other cool features I may be missing? Good value and performance, hopefully less than 0.
Go to: www.amazon.com Hi – I’ve used a lot of training devices in the past. My list includes Polar HRM of several models, the garmin 301 GPS model, stopwatches and a finger, even the new Nike/iPod combo and this one really takes the cake for me. I have a scientific background and work in the tech industry, but even though I understand math and engineering, it’s not what I want when I am working out. I want simplicity, reliability and features that sit there until I ask for them. I don’t want to get a degree in deviceology to make it work each and every time I’m out for a run, hike or bike. Sometimes I am training for a marathon or triathlon – so I’d prefer my unit be capable to help me reach those goals when I need to plan workouts and analyze data about how my training is going – but the wrist unit itself has to be intuitive and stay out of the way when I just want to work out. This model can expand with GPS, or two different bike modules, or a foor pod if distance measurement is something you want in addition to HRM and time of training data. It also can be used with the SmartBelt (which cost extra). The smartbelt will work with the T3 during exercise (just like the included HRM measurement belt that you wear around your chest), but the optional Smartbelt stores advanced workout metrics so you could geek out with PC/coach and truly train like the pros if you wish. The unit is well designed, thin, utilitarian yet not overly geeky (I would take it off for a black tie …
I got a garmin forerunner 50 wrist watch that records my heart rate, speed, cadence, calories, time and distance ran. I have about 6 workout sessions of data downloaded to my computer.
What do I do with the data? I am a new runner and I don’t know how to analyze the data to help me.
Yeah, i know max heart rates, and to exercise in the 60% to 80% percent zone.
Is their some type of software that can analyze this data and give me suggestions on how to improve my workouts?
Anyone have any insight?
I’ve decided not to get a polar, b/c I don’t want to have to send it in for battery replacement. I’m torn between a timex and a nike c6. I’m not a runner, so I don’t care about the lap features. Any suggests?
I am looking into a Polar Heart monitor for fitness and weight loss. I want one that can be programmed for me specifically and monitor all 5 heart rate zones. Anyone have some insight?
Specifically, I was looking at the Nike SportBand. Would it give an accurate reading if I did the treadmill, elliptical or spinning bike at my gym? Would it be best to just get a heart rate monitor?
Please only answer if you have a clue as to what I’m asking =) I’ve seen where people just throw out answers just to get the points. Thanks!
I already have a Polar Heart Rate Transmitter Belt, but I can’t find any Polar receivers wrist watches online for a reasonable price! I’m talking 40 dollars…?
First off I am a female in my teens and I have two types of heart disease. 1. Non compaction
cardiomyopathy and 2. premature ventricular contraction. Both apparently don’t have anything to do with the other. I am not on any medicine, but i may take beta blockers in the future, and I have striped my diet of caffeine. I also exercise daily, but I take many breaks to stop my heart rate from going up. My cardiologist instructed me to watch my heart rate not let it get up to high, also not to play any competitive sports (soccer, lacrosse) in case anything goes wrong i can stop. if you could just give me some suggestions, and possibly give me a list of what i can and can’t do. like what could happen if my heart rate goes up to high?
Im not necessairly asking about weight im not concerned about that really i just want to know if i can do regualar activities. someone asked me something that kind of concerned me and got me thinking. They were wondering if i was able to "have children" or have sex in the future since i can’t bring my heart rate up is that true?
I am looking to buy a running watch for cross country season. However, I am not sure whether to buy a more heart rate monitor devoted product such as a Polar, or a GPS devoted product such as a Garmin. I love the look of the Forerunner 405 as it does just about everything, although, I have heard that they are unreliable, they have a poor battery life and that they stop working in humid conditions (i live in brisbane). Your help is appreciated.
I wonder how important the alarms are that are supposed to keep you in your zones, as well as presets for different zones. Since I’ve never used one, it’s hard to know what I will want at first. It sort of seems like I should just get a bare bones inexpensive model that just shows current heart rate. I’ve seen a Timex I like – comes with Indiglo and you can change the battery on your own. Are all the extra features worth it?
I just started walking and I would like to get a heart rate monitor. I am so confused I don’t know which one to buy. There are so many out there. I just need it to check my pulse rate, and it should also let me know if I am above or below my target rate. It should be clear, easy to use and the transmitter should be comfortable.
I would greatly appreciate if anyone can help me out here. Thanks
So im a rower, and we all just bought these heart rate monitors and we are told that we have to train within certain heart rate zones. However, my heart rate sky rockets during even light training. e.g i was struggling to get my heart rate below 160 with a 500m split of about 2.40 on a rowing machine. Whereas totally ignoring the heart rate monitor i could hold a 500m split of 2.05 forever.
So really how effective is training to heart rate zones in increasing fitness because after what i have just described, i have my doubts.
This past year has been a very stressful year for me. I haven’t put aside time to exercise and I haven’t been watching what I’ve been eating (I’m a big stress eater). I am not overweight (height 5′2 and weight 115), but I feel like I am a lot unhealthier. Do you agree that these are the causes to my increased heart rate? What can I do to bring it down?
Thanks for your help!
My husband and I will be celebrating another anniversary together and instead of some sappy 5th year glass, tin, aluminum thingy I am going to get him something he likes. He likes the gym, running and video games. I try to stay away from ALL articles of clothes because I did not one year and it went sour so here are some Ideas.
Madden 2010 (he has a game cube but really wants a wii. Don’t know if I can swing a wii and the game so should I get it on game cube?)
A sports watch (some cool gadget where he can keep his heart rate and a thousand other things)
transitional weights (not really big on because he can go the the gym for this).
Any other ideas? (other than "nookie and beer". That is a given)
good ideas steph. Thank you.
Anyone else care to weigh in?
Good answers so far. Interesting. Any Men want to weigh in?
I’m a runner and am curious which watch is the cheapest but still tells me my distance, pace, and heart rate while I’m running. I looked at the Garmin Forerunner. What do you all think of those?
I’m looking to get a heart rate monitor and honestly am a little overwhelmed with the amount of them available. It seems that Polar and Timex are the leading companies but I wanted your opinions. Have you used one? Did it give you accurate data?
Basically I understand the value of intensity training, i want a monitor that gives you accurate readings and i would rather not pay 9. If you have used one that is user friendly, accurate, and affordable please let me know!
I just got one of these and am reading through the paperwork. But thought I might get a clearer answer here. My resting heart rate was 74 and it had a 41% next to it. Does that mean my max heart rate shouldn’t be more than 104? That seems low, doesn’t it? I exercise and am sure my heart rate goes past 104 during cardio.
I also forgot to add that I do have 1 cup of black coffee about an hour before my work-out. Not sure if that changes the numbers.
If I can actually get a real answer to my question, that would be great! I’m not asking about personal opinions of HRM’s, just what my max heart rate should be….. hmmm….
I am wanting to get accurate zones to work out in. I keep finding conflicting advice. Some get you to work out resting heart rate and calculate form there others get you to subtract your age from a number.
I get the zones (eg 60 – 80% for weight management 70 to 90% for cardio fitness etc.) I need to set my heart rate monitor to accurate readings before I know where I am at,
Anyone???
Stainless steel casing – designed to inspire Analog signal transmission EEG – precise heart rate measurement Prepared for downloading data (cable and software not incl.) Average and max. heart rate Calorie consumption in kcal + fat consumption in g Individual training range settable Lap times (50 ) Bicycle mounting bracket Waterproof (30 m) storage box