Strange heart rate "issue"

eth0_

I'm a 28 year old female. At the moment i'm more interested in losing fat than getting super fit.

I go to the gym 4-5 times a week, and when I do cardio I usually do 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer or bike, and 45 mins jogging at around 7km/h.

I've noticed recently that some days I cannot get my heart rate above 120. Usually my peak is 140-150. I'm definitely not slacking off when my peak heart rate is lower.

Is this something to worry about? Could be related to the length of time between my last meal and my workout?

--amadeus--

I would guess you've plateaud - you've done the same routine for X amount of time, at first it was hard and increased your heart rate, now you're fitter, it's easy and your hr stays low.

Work harder is the easy answer - faster or longer

flywheel

eth0_ wrote: »

Is this something to worry about?

not being able to see your heart rate rise when training can sometimes be a sign of overtraining...

can also be a sign you aren't well (altho there should be other indicators of that)

Brian?

DubFit wrote: »

not being able to see your heart rate rise when training can sometimes be a sign of overtraining...

can also be a sign you aren't well (altho there should be other indicators of that)

I seriously doubt its over training OP. It's probably just what amadeus said, you're body is used to the training you've been doing.

Progression is the key to losing weight and getting fitter. If you can run at 7km/h without getting your heart rate over 120, push the speed up to 7.5km/h or add an incline. After a few sessions that won't get your heart rate up anymore, so it's time to up the speed/incline again.

If you're not progressing, you're actually going backwards.

arybvtcw0eolkf

OP the HRM is one of the best training tools anyone can acquire (IMO), for best results talk to someone who really know's their stuff on 'em (Cowzerp here gives me great training advice on the HRM).

From my understanding a lot of factors can account for your lowered HRM, time of day, feelings tired, dehydrated, illness & injury or simply a lack of fitness.

There's lots of info on a google search too.

A lot of people here will take a guess and just say you've to work harder, run faster without any real experience using/training/advising on HRM usage which is all pretty useless.

eth0_

briankeating wrote: »

Progression is the key to losing weight and getting fitter. If you can run at 7km/h without getting your heart rate over 120, push the speed up to 7.5km/h or add an incline. After a few sessions that won't get your heart rate up anymore, so it's time to up the speed/incline again.

I can't run because I have a weak ankle (fractured it when I was younger) and it sometimes just...gives way...when I run. But i'll increase the incline and see if that helps. I'll speak to my trainer in the gym next time I see him.

Brian?

eth0_ wrote: »

I can't run because I have a weak ankle (fractured it when I was younger) and it sometimes just...gives way...when I run. But i'll increase the incline and see if that helps. I'll speak to my trainer in the gym next time I see him.

You should visit a physio to sort your ankle out. That would be my priority if I were you.

cowzerp

eth0_ wrote: »

I can't run because I have a weak ankle (fractured it when I was younger) and it sometimes just...gives way...when I run.

maybe focus on Rowing, Cycling or swimming if your a good swimmer for your more intense cardio, walking for fit people is warm up and your heart rate would be low doing it, Incline will help but probably not massively, If i was training normal and my heart rate was low then it would usually be a warning to me that im getting a cold or bug or in more extreme cases that i was run down.. so just rest up in that case.

dioltas

eth0_ wrote: »

I can't run because I have a weak ankle (fractured it when I was younger) and it sometimes just...gives way...when I run. But i'll increase the incline and see if that helps. I'll speak to my trainer in the gym next time I see him.

You don't have to increase the speed on the threadmill, you could just increase the resistance on the bike and keep your rpm the same. Or keep the resistance the same and increase the rpm. If you want to avoid putting stress on your ankle I mean.

Don't know what could be causing the heart rate thing.

Might be a good idea to have a physio look at your ankle alright though.

DubMedic

Henley Warm Mandolin wrote: »

There's lots of info on a google search too.

A lot of people here will take a guess and just say you've to work harder, run faster without any real experience using/training/advising on HRM usage which is all pretty useless.

I would tend to advise against google search, unless you know exactly what you're looking for.. and which sites to use.

A lot of people will give advice without knowledge of it yes, which in my opinion is just idiotic.. trying to show off knowledge which just isn't there.

.

arybvtcw0eolkf

Guys if its the case (and I suspect it is) that the OP is still pushing hard and not getting her HR above 120 then there's an underlying problem.

One of the problems with a low HR to exhaustion ratio is whatever problem is causing the low HR won't allow the individual to push through that barrier because they're exhausting early.

arybvtcw0eolkf

DubMedic wrote: »

I would tend to advise against google search, unless you know exactly what you're looking for.. and which sites to use.

A lot of people will give advice without knowledge of it yes, which in my opinion is just idiotic.. trying to show off knowledge which just isn't there.

.

Well sometimes a little cop on is called for.

Obviously I wouldn't advocate someone picking a random discussion forum for advice as some people will just take a guess at offering advice on sometimes serious matters.

Its not very complicated or hard to grasp but there is a little science behind using a HRM properly, and speaking only for myself, the HRM has been the best fitness tool I've ever used.

DubMedic

Henley Warm Mandolin wrote: »

Well sometimes a little cop on is called for.

Obviously I wouldn't advocate someone picking a random discussion forum for advice as some people will just take a guess at offering advice on sometimes serious matters.

Its not very complicated or hard to grasp but there is a little science behind using a HRM properly, and speaking only for myself, the HRM has been the best fitness tool I've ever used.

It can actually be beneficial to an athlete in many ways, only when it is utilized correctly.

.

Kevster

DubMedic wrote: »

It can actually be beneficial to an athlete in many ways, only when it is utilized correctly.

.

Right, but how many novices buy all the gear (including a HRM) with the great idea of 'getting fit fast' in their minds? They'll no doubt misuse the monitor by not understanding the fundamentals of fitness and heart-rates.

Kevin

eth0_

Henley Warm Mandolin wrote: »

Guys if its the case (and I suspect it is) that the OP is still pushing hard and not getting her HR above 120 then there's an underlying problem.

No no, it's not like this every time I train, just once or sometimes twice a week i'll have trouble getting my heart rate about 120. Maybe it's to do with what i've eaten before I go to the gym, and how long i've waited between eating and exercising. I don't have any underlying health issues.

Am going to make an appointment with a physio soon.

Cheers for the advice, all.

flywheel

is the equipment working ok... no battery issues or potential crosstalk from another HRM? are you using the built in cardio pulse check (is it working ok, and consistant across each machine)...

i don't see how sporadic HR issues like would be a sign of your fitness improving... if you rule out equipment issues then there is something else definately worth investigation... personally i'd investigate any opotential overtraining, arrhythmia or other medical issues and rule them out first before following any advice about pushing yourself harder...

eth0_

DubFit wrote: »

i don't see how sporadic HR issues like would be a sign of your fitness improving... if you rule out equipment issues then there is something else definately worth investigation... personally i'd investigate any opotential overtraining, arrhythmia or other medical issues and rule them out first before following any advice about pushing yourself harder...

Jesus...what exactly qualifies you to make such a proclamation & scare me like that?

125 is hardly LOW, that's a fat burning heart rate after all. I already said i'm healthy. I don't have any heart problems.

Also, I notice you didn't take into account that I said it could be related to training quite some time after eating, so a lack of energy/lower blood pressure could be the cause.

cowzerp

eth0_ wrote: »

Jesus...what exactly qualifies you to make such a proclamation & scare me like that?

125 is hardly LOW, that's a fat burning heart rate after all. I already said i'm healthy. I don't have any heart problems.

Also, I notice you didn't take into account that I said it could be related to training quite some time after eating, so a lack of energy/lower blood pressure could be the cause.

125 is low and crap for burning fat, all fat burning zone means is there is a higher percentage of the caloies burned from fat, say 50%, the percentage is high on a small total number of calories, the actual amount you'd burn would be less than at the higher zones where more calories are burned and a slightly lower percentage of fat, say 40%, meaning with far more calories burned 40% of them will be more than 50% of the small amount of calories burned in the "fat burning zone" should be called warm up zone.

menoscemo

eth0_ wrote: »

I've noticed recently that some days I cannot get my heart rate above 120. Usually my peak is 140-150. I'm definitely not slacking off when my peak heart rate is lower.

i don't think this is rocket science as some people are making out. Surely if your heart rate is not going above 120 it is because you are not working hard enough. Solution: Work harder!