The Heart Rate Monitor

Some of you have noticed that I’m always looking at my watch during workouts. I do this to make sure I’m working as hard as I should be. My watch is my heart rate monitor. It calculates the intensity of my workouts and tells me precisely how many calories I have burned. Using a heart rate monitor is the best way to see if you are pushing yourself enough during workouts. For those who don’t have a monitor I tell them to push themselves so they sweat.

A heart rate monitor senses and displays your heart rate. Walkers can use heart rate to adjust the intensity of their walk -- speeding up or slowing down to stay in their chosen heart rate zone. Two walkers going the same speed may be in different zones -- one barely working at all, the other near maximum and straining. As your fitness improves, you can walk faster at the same heart rate.

ECG-Accurate Monitors with Chest Strap

The most accurate heart rate monitors use a chest strap which fits snugly around your chest just below the breast. The transmitter detects the electrical activity of your heart just like an ECG. It relays this to a display, usually worn like a wristwatch. Make sure you stay away from the one touch finger pulse options.  

Heart Monitor Features

Basic models display only your heart rate, and perhaps elapsed exercise time. With increasing price you get a variety of useful features such as: Heart rate zone alarm: Set the zone and it alerts you when you are high or low. Timers: Countdown timer, stopwatch, interval timers, clock, alarm. Calories burned. Time in zone, splits. Fitness test. Computer link. Pre-programmed workouts.

Display and Ease of Use

Besides features, shop for how easy it is to use. Can you read the numbers easily? Does it have a backlight for use in low light? Are there so many features that you will have to carry the manual to figure out how to use it each time? Are the buttons well labeled and easy to find and push?

Also be sure to get a unit that will calculate calories burned. Polar makes some of the best heart rate monitors available. Polar Options

When I bought my monitor I bought the best on the market. I new I wanted features and my FT80 has so many. It is my personal trainer. It was the best investment I have made along my weight loss journey. (Along with quality shoes, Precore elliptical, and workout DVDs. More on those in the coming days).