2 heart rate monitor training related Q's

willietherock

I got a heart rate monitor from Lidl and was curious about the following

1. Whats the best way to measure maximum heart rate beat if the 220 - age is not all that accurate?
2. how do I incorporate use of a heart rate monitor into, say, a 25 min interval running routine?

googlehead

willietherock wrote: »

I got a heart rate monitor from Lidl and was curious about the following

1. Whats the best way to measure maximum heart rate beat if the 220 - age is not all that accurate?
2. how do I incorporate use of a heart rate monitor into, say, a 25 min interval running routine?

I bought one too, bit confused on how to use the thing:(

waraf

I think you just work out what your training zone is and then during your run make sure that your heart rate stays in that zone. Most heart rate monitors will give a little beep if your heart rate moves outside the zone.
Also, at the end of a session don't just go from a very high heart rate to rest. Slow down gently and this will allow your heart rate to slow down gently too.

cowzerp

OK, to put it simply, the higher your heart rate goes the harder your working and more calories you are burning, if you choose to do intervals get the heart rate as high as you can and hold it for defined period then let it drop to a low heart rate, 130 would be low-this advise is not suitable for those with heart problems and is meant for people without complications.

the heart rate zones, fat burning, etc are useless and dont make sense-dont bother using them-just use it to make you push yourself-then you'll get the most out of you and your monitor.

arybvtcw0eolkf

cowzerp wrote: »

OK, to put it simply, the higher your heart rate goes the harder your working and more calories you are burning, if you choose to do intervals get the heart rate as high as you can and hold it for defined period then let it drop to a low heart rate, 130 would be low-this advise is not suitable for those with heart problems and is meant for people without complications.

the heart rate zones, fat burning, etc are useless and dont make sense-dont bother using them-just use it to make you push yourself-then you'll get the most out of you and your monitor.

Just to back up what Paul said.

He gave me the same advice last year re. working at at max HR and at interval training to drop back etc.

Well I gear my cardio around Judo, a fight last fight minutes so when I do interval training (usually on my bike) I'll go flat out for 6-7 minutes then back it off for half that time before upping it again.

My training has come on in leaps and bounds since taking his advice.

Out jogging, or on the thread mill or cross trainer I usually just for about 80% max for the entire workout in the hope of building stamina too.

.

dioltas

I must get one of them, hope they still have them in lidl!

**Timbuk2**

The 220-age formula for Max HR is useless.

Going by that my Max HR should be 191. However, it is actually 204 bpm. I didn't test officially in a lab or anything but it is the highest I ever got on my HR Monitor and I felt like I was giving it my all at the time so I'm sure this is very close to my max.

If in doubt, start at 220-age and then adjust as you do more training.

But use the HR monitor to push you, not hold you back. If you feel like you can give it a bit more, do. Listening to your body can be more effective than listening to your HRM at times.
But you'll love having a HRM - I certainly do. You'll never want to workout without it now

De Deraco

Hey I am looking to get one of these, but as far as I checked they're sold out in Lidl.

Does anyone have a recomendation for a HR monitor around the 50 euro mark?

Don't mind buying online dut offline is fine

arybvtcw0eolkf

De Deraco wrote: »

Hey I am looking to get one of these, but as far as I checked they're sold out in Lidl.

Does anyone have a recomendation for a HR monitor around the 50 euro mark?

Don't mind buying online dut offline is fine

Tbh I get the impression they all do more or less the same thing.

Polar is a very popular make, however I believe the watch has to be returned to have its battery replaced when its flat - but I've yet to confirm that. Plus Polar is compatible with alot of gym equipment, ie you don't have to wear the chest strap - but then again the same machine's will have sensor's on 'em, so I don't see that as being a deciding factor (for me anyway).

I use a CardioSport & find it comfortable to wear & the chest strap not restrictive at all (and I'm not a small guy by any means).

I think the big plus for anyone participating in a sport is that using a HRM gives you the confidence to know you can really push yourself whilst competing because you know you've been training at max or near man HR for extended periods of time, whereas without the HRM your really just plodding along & guess where your cardio training is going.

.

Killme00

Cardiosport looks good, who stocks them in Dublin?

**Timbuk2**

Eden Steep Skirt wrote: »

Polar is a very popular make, however I believe the watch has to be returned to have its battery replaced when its flat - but I've yet to confirm that. Plus Polar is compatible with alot of gym equipment, ie you don't have to wear the chest strap - but then again the same machine's will have sensor's on 'em, so I don't see that as being a deciding factor (for me anyway).

You are, as usual, correct! With Polar (the majority of the HRMs anyway) you can't access the battery and if it goes you have to send it away to get the battery changed so as they can retain the waterproofness (is that a word?)

However, it doesn't need changing often. The Chest Strap should last well over a year depending on usage and the watch should last over 2 years. (these are only given figures - I didn't have my Polar F6 long enough to determine how long it actually lasts).

I agree, the Cardiosport looks really good. I strongly considered buying a Cardiosport when I was getting a HRM but due to Cardiosports not being easily available in Dundalk I went with the Polar F6, which was readily available.

If you're in Dublin try the obvious places like Lifestyle Sports, Champion Sports, Elverys etc. for the Cardiosport HRM.

arybvtcw0eolkf

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

You are, as usual, correct!

Thats a nice compliment to receive here, thank you!.

I've only one gripe with the CardioSport HRM, and its purely personal - I find the display a little on the small size & hard to read at a glance when I'm flat out.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'd like a mode where I could select JUST the BPM and nothing else.

But Cowzer (always a chap to throw a compliment my way - NOT) will tell you its my failing sight due to old age and ****, :P.

.

Killme00

Eden Steep Skirt wrote: »

But Cowzer (always a chap to throw a compliment my way - NOT) will tell you its my failing sight due to old age and ****, :P.

.

you wear it while ****? Thats extreme

arybvtcw0eolkf

Killme00 wrote: »

you wear it while ****? Thats extreme

Beats per Minute!.

:P

**Timbuk2**

Eden Steep Skirt wrote: »

I've only one gripe with the CardioSport HRM, and its purely personal - I find the display a little on the small size & hard to read at a glance when I'm flat out

That's usual enough for all heart rate monitors. When I am running fast it's hard to steady my arm and look at the watch. Knowing my past history I would lose balance and topple over head first!
It's much easier to look at your watch on a bike

j@utis

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

...
But you'll love having a HRM - I certainly do. You'll never want to workout without it now

I can't really say 'I love it' but I certainly push myself much more when I'm wearing HRM. And if it happens that I forget it at home (it happened twice this year so far) then I feel some kind of 'freedom' when exersizing: just go easily enjoying myself; although I'm afraid it's not much of a benefit in this case :rolleyes:

Roper

I second Paul's thing. Really, the ony way to accurately assess your max heart rate is to work really hard with a monitor on. By the maths I should have a 189 max but I've done 195. It's stil okay as a rule of thumb though.

flywheel

willietherock wrote: »

I got a heart rate monitor from Lidl and was curious about the following

1. Whats the best way to measure maximum heart rate beat if the 220 - age is not all that accurate?
2. how do I incorporate use of a heart rate monitor into, say, a 25 min interval running routine?

yes 220-age can be way off the mark... if you are just trying to pop a quick routine together then using it as a tool to help monitor your exertion would be helpful (i.e. how hard is my cardiorespiratory system working right now) but without a bit of testing, calibration with yourself and some benchmarking it won't really be doing more than flashing a number back... if that's enough for some people ok, but you can take it further and as you asked the question it sounds like you may want to...

have a read of this post for some info (some links geared towards cycling / HIIT, but you can discover info on Lactate Threshold Heart Rate for other pursuits), was posted in the other Lidl HRM thread

if you are actually thinking about longer term training or working towards an event you can delve deeper getting into periodised programmes and working from your own personal training zones (based on your own LTHR results, not the generic gym cardio machine zones)

make sure you bear in mind a HRM (Heart Rate Monitor) is a tool which measures something that can vary from day to day, you need to learn how to work it into your own perception of your exertion too and how to compare it to your performance... someone like Joe Friel would be a good read... i like some of his quotes on using a HRM in a side bar entitled "Don't be a slave to your heart rate monitor"... it concludes with this:

"Heart rate by itself tells you nothing about performance or well-being ...heart rate alone tells you only one thing - you are still alive. Drawing conclusions only from what your monitor says on a given day is folly. Use the information that this training tool gives you, but don't rely on it alone."

flywheel

De Deraco wrote: »

Hey I am looking to get one of these, but as far as I checked they're sold out in Lidl.

Does anyone have a recomendation for a HR monitor around the 50 euro mark?

Don't mind buying online dut offline is fine

i find these the best price for Polar HRMs in Dublin:
http://irishfit.eu/polarmain.htm

the Fs2c would be an entry level coded (minimises interference with other monitors nearby) for 50 euro

dioltas

I remember a while back, I read a thread on here about people leaving on heart rate monitors for a few days to estimate their daily calorie expenditure. Just wondering how accurate this could really be.

If a unfit person and a very fit person do the same amount of work, I assume the unfit person would have a higher heart rate than the fit person.

They both expended the same amount of energy but according to their heartrates the unfit person would have burned more calories? Or am I missing something here?

**Timbuk2**

dioltas wrote: »

I remember a while back, I read a thread on here about people leaving on heart rate monitors for a few days to estimate their daily calorie expenditure. Just wondering how accurate this could really be.

If a unfit person and a very fit person do the same amount of work, I assume the unfit person would have a higher heart rate than the fit person.

They both expended the same amount of energy but according to their heartrates the unfit person would have burned more calories? Or am I missing something here?

They didn't necessarily expend the same amount of energy.

They might do the same thing - e.g lift a box up the stairs. But with an unfit person, lifting a box up stairs is harder than it would be for a fitter person. Therefore they have a higher heart rate, and therefore burn more calories.

Sometimes you may not feel your heart rate get higher if it doesn't increase by a large amount. For example, I nearly always walk to the gym. If I was walking without a gym bag, my heart rate would be about 75-80bpm (my RHR is 48 but it goes up quite a bit while walking). When I have my gym bag on (it is quite heavy) it can be about 100bpm, but I don't really feel my heart beating any faster. However, you'd notice the difference between 160bpm and 180bpm easy enough!

Miss_McBeal

Hello,

I bought one from Lidl as well.
It worked fine for 3 weeks but now the watch is no longer working. I tried to have the battery changed but the watch repairer told me there is no problem with the battery.
I'd like to get an exchange from Lidl, but I've lost the receipt. I showed them my bank statement but they they can't accept it.
They want to see Lidl's reference for this item (seems like they don't keep records of previous item codes).
Please could you do me big favour and tell me what product reference is on your receipt?

Many Thanks in advancce

Adeline

arybvtcw0eolkf

Miss_McBeal wrote: »

Hello,

I bought one from Lidl as well.
It worked fine for 3 weeks but now the watch is no longer working. I tried to have the battery changed but the watch repairer told me there is no problem with the battery.
I'd like to get an exchange from Lidl, but I've lost the receipt. I showed them my bank statement but they they can't accept it.
They want to see Lidl's reference for this item (seems like they don't keep records of previous item codes).
Please could you do me big favour and tell me what product reference is on your receipt?

Many Thanks in advancce

Adeline

My advice to you would be to post about this issue HERE.

.

An Citeog

Miss_McBeal wrote: »

Hello,

I bought one from Lidl as well.
It worked fine for 3 weeks but now the watch is no longer working. I tried to have the battery changed but the watch repairer told me there is no problem with the battery.
I'd like to get an exchange from Lidl, but I've lost the receipt. I showed them my bank statement but they they can't accept it.
They want to see Lidl's reference for this item (seems like they don't keep records of previous item codes).
Please could you do me big favour and tell me what product reference is on your receipt?

Many Thanks in advancce

Adeline

There's no product reference on the receipt I got. Just says heart rate monitor.