Heart Rate Monitors: Worth While?

flugel

Just looking for some advice if anyone has any taughts.


Been going to the gym for last three months. Main focus is weight loss but I am doing weights for lower and upper body as well, trying to get a bit stronger at the same time.

Was talking to a friend who recommended getting a heart rate monitor. I've heard before about the different zones of BPM that determines what kind of work out you are doing, weight loss, cardio etc so I definately see its benefits.

I've two questions I suppose:

1) I will be doing all my training in the gym, all the equipment there have HRM built in, would this suffice, as in they are realiably / accurate?

2) If I was to get a HRM and not looking to spend a fortune anyone recommend any? I like the idea of one that can record your workouts and upload them (there'd be no denying the facts then), obviously they'd be the more expensive ones but would consider around the €100 price range.


Cheers for any advice given

Khannie

flugel wrote: »

1) I will be doing all my training in the gym, all the equipment there have HRM built in, would this suffice, as in they are realiably / accurate?

Just a bit of clarification: Are you talking about the metal handle things? Or do you mean the equipment just has a HRM receiver in it?

My own experience with those metal handle things is that they're accurate enough, BUT...they're a pain in the bum. You can't really use them on a treadmill. If you just want something to keep an eye on what your HR is, any cheap chest strap should do the trick.

It is absolutely *no use* relying on the 220-age thing though. You need to find out what your max heart rate is before you can reasonably use zone based training.

flugel

Khannie wrote: »

Just a bit of clarification: Are you talking about the metal handle things? Or do you mean the equipment just has a HRM receiver in it?

Yup them metal plates. I'd see how on a tredmill they'd be awkward but I dont use the tredmill myself, knees cant handle it. So its generally the bike or cross trainer, checking BPM on them ain't too annoying.

Khannie wrote: »

It is absolutely *no use* relying on the 220-age thing though. You need to find out what your max heart rate is before you can reasonably use zone based training.

Don't understand the 220-Age thing, that refer to training in a certain BPM range is weight loss, cardio etc? My understanding (which is v poor), seeing as BPM is all relative, that a certain BPM would perform the same function is most people? As in 130 - 140 (or whatever) would be weight loss for everybody, thats not how it works so I take it?

How does one calculate max heart rate, with a HRM I take it?

mrpink6789

I have the Polar Ft7. Like you I waS aiming for weight loss so I was counting calories etc. The Polar one is handy because it tells you how many you have burned but also goes in to detail what you burned in the fat zone and the fitness zone. I use the cross trainer and the HRM on that was always all over the place so I wouldnt trust the machines.

flugel

mrpink6789 wrote: »

I have the Polar Ft7. Like you I waS aiming for weight loss so I was counting calories etc. The Polar one is handy because it tells you how many you have burned but also goes in to detail what you burned in the fat zone and the fitness zone. I use the cross trainer and the HRM on that was always all over the place so I wouldnt trust the machines.

Cheers, sounds like your happy with it then. Similar goals and you found it useful when in the gym, what I'm going for.

Might start pricing some HRM. If i'm going to be spending time in the gym I want to try make it as productive as possible.

www.irishfit.eu seems to have some decent prices, will have to compare with others

mrpink6789

I ordered it off irishfit.eu, arrived within a day or two and the price seemed fairly competitive.

Khannie

flugel wrote: »

Don't understand the 220-Age thing, that refer to training in a certain BPM range is weight loss, cardio etc?

Yep.

flugel wrote: »

My understanding (which is v poor), seeing as BPM is all relative, that a certain BPM would perform the same function is most people?

That's not the case and that's what I was saying. You need to get your max heart rate tested (or test it yourself or whatever) and you use a percentage range there for fat loss, cardio, anaerobic, etc.

The Guvnor

I think so and they can be had for less than a ton. Lidl were doing one cheap recently.

I cannot vouch for quality but would imagine not too bad.

flywheel

@ mrpink6789

have a read about Lactate Threshold Heart Rate, there is lots of info about field tests (which can be near enough accurate to lab tests once you get used to them)

basing your training zones around Lactate Threshold should give you a good calibration to train effectively

i have a few freely available resources i've found online or have been directed to when i do courses about this stuff, unfortunately the Moderators of the forum here have advised me they regard my links as advertising (even tho I have no professional ties to anything i link to) so sorry I can't give you any references here, PM me if you are interested

flugel

mrpink6789 wrote: »

I ordered it off irishfit.eu, arrived within a day or two and the price seemed fairly competitive.

The FT7 can link up to the online polar training tracker yoke, but do you have to buy an accessory to do this? Have you or are you happy with the functions of the watch as it is?

mrpink6789

Yeah theres some accessory to buy for it to link up with your laptop and compare your progress.

to be honest all I wanted was something easy to use which can show me how many calories I burned. You can look at weekly calories etc but if you want it to do more you might be better off with a garmin. the ft7 is easy to use though!

The Bad Pawn

I'd recommend a HR monitor if your doing cardio but wouldn;t if your only doing weights.

HR monitors are lot more accurate than the monitors that are in built in gym equipment. Generally speaking a HR of 155bpm is a decent guide to what you should be doing for a sterady cardio workout.

The Guvnor

At 155 bpm average for 30mins plus I'd be dead!

My heart rate is linear as in 45 degrees from RHR right upto maximum - no sudden spikes.

This am as an example I did 45 mins on the bike did about 730 ish cals and averaged close to 300w for the session. Average heart rate mid 120's and maxed out at less than 160. Techogym bike rpm 105 average.

No way I'd average 155 for 30 mins plus. Not sure if I ever did, even when rowing competitively. Maybe once or twice when doing 8700m on the erg in 30 mins think it might of averaged 154 - will check as it could have been 161, not sure.

So it's not really fair to say 155 is where it's at or should be at, for me at any rate!:)

mrpink6789

The Guvnor wrote: »

At 155 bpm average for 30mins plus I'd be dead!

My heart rate is linear as in 45 degrees from RHR right upto maximum - no sudden spikes.

This am as an example I did 45 mins on the bike did about 730 ish cals and averaged close to 300w for the session. Average heart rate mid 120's and maxed out at less than 160. Techogym bike rpm 105 average.

No way I'd average 155 for 30 mins plus. Not sure if I ever did, even when rowing competitively. Maybe once or twice when doing 8700m on the erg in 30 mins think it might of averaged 154 - will check as it could have been 161, not sure.

So it's not really fair to say 155 is where it's at or should be at, for me at any rate!:)

What I also found is calculating your max heart rate, which zone you should be in etc can be awful confusing. Best thing to do is give 110% every workout and the results will speak for themselves

The Bad Pawn

The Guvnor wrote: »

At 155 bpm average for 30mins plus I'd be dead!

My heart rate is linear as in 45 degrees from RHR right upto maximum - no sudden spikes.

This am as an example I did 45 mins on the bike did about 730 ish cals and averaged close to 300w for the session. Average heart rate mid 120's and maxed out at less than 160. Techogym bike rpm 105 average.

No way I'd average 155 for 30 mins plus. Not sure if I ever did, even when rowing competitively. Maybe once or twice when doing 8700m on the erg in 30 mins think it might of averaged 154 - will check as it could have been 161, not sure.

So it's not really fair to say 155 is where it's at or should be at, for me at any rate!:)

Hey Guvnor,

I hear what your saying, everyone is a bit different. For me my resting heart rate is about 42 BPM and my max is about 195BPM. 155Bpm is my working rate that I can cruise on all day, for instance that would be my marathon rate. Everyone is different so the best guide is that if your looking to do a long cardio session pick a pace you could hold a conversation at with a little bit of effort. Thats a sustainable working pace. No harm checking your heart rate at that point if you have a monitor.

The argument for going out hard evbery time doesn't make any sense as it will lead to a shorter workout time due to oxygen depletion not to mention an increased chance of injury. Your much better off picking a more sustainable pace and going for longer.

Or even better, do a few sessions throughout the week i.e: two long but working sessions and one slightly shorter but faster session (after warming up). Just be very careful to build up slowly if your not used to / returning to exercise.

Mellor

Bad Pawn, your previous post about 155 being a decent guide is stupid. It may be for you, but thats means nothing really. You even said yourself, everyone is different, so pretty big contradiction.
As for training at a high pace for short sessions, or slower for longer is totall goal dependant.

What you do to train for your marathons, amy not be suitable for everyone.

The Bad Pawn

The Bad Pawn wrote: »

Hey Guvnor,

I hear what your saying, everyone is a bit different. For me my resting heart rate is about 42 BPM and my max is about 195BPM. 155Bpm is my working rate that I can cruise on all day, for instance that would be my marathon rate. Everyone is different so the best guide is that if your looking to do a long cardio session pick a pace you could hold a conversation at with a little bit of effort. Thats a sustainable working pace. No harm checking your heart rate at that point if you have a monitor..

Mellor it appears you have an inability to read an entire thread (all one page of it). As clearly stated above I say "Everyone is different"

For me 155bpm is my aerobic work rate ie: Max HR (198) x .75% = roughly 155bpm (yes Mellor science is very stupid isn't it) (heres an imperfect but free HR zone calaulator for anyone who want to find their zones: http://www.sarkproducts.com/targetzonecalculator.htm )

when I said "Generally speaking a HR of 155bpm is a decent guide " perhaps I wasn't clear enough explaining that I meant "myself" that's why I followed it up with:

'Everyone is different so the best guide is that if your looking to do a long cardio session pick a pace you could hold a conversation at with a little bit of effort. Thats a sustainable working pace."


Mellor: "You even said yourself, everyone is different, so pretty big contradiction."

No Mellor, that's called a clarificatrion, heres a dictionary definition of clarification in case you feel like calling somebody else stupid without first engageing your brain. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clarification

TBP"What you do to train for your marathons, amy not be suitable for everyone." Again congratulations Mellor on stating the obvious I already clarified (remember that word?)this above.

The bottom line in this thread is "Heart Rate Monitors: worthwhile?".
From personal experience I'd say yes. Heart rate monitors are a great tool to have available to you but you shouldn't become 100% reliant on them. Using them as a motivational tool or aerobic guide can be very helpful. Some people swear hy the and some people hate them, so I can only give my opinion based on my personal experiences. I came from a rugby background and fround that HR monitors really helped me pace myself when transitioning to running and doing races from 5ks' to marathons to Ironman, but everyone is different. If you have the spare cash and plan on doing cardio there are some decent starter HR monitors out there that will aloow you the beneifit of HR training but without the bells and whistles that you may not need (or want to pay for)

Safe training

The Guvnor

Hey BP,

My RHR is about 40 ish.
My MHR is probably around the 175-190 mark - more like 175 on the bike.
My 4mmol level or Anaerobic Threshold was around the 150 mark (will check).

My conversation heart rate will vary dependent upon the machine used, lowest probably on the bike and higher on say the treadmill or elliptical.

Conversation heart rate would be about the mid 120's to early 130's.

That's the thing - the same heart rate can feel wildly different dependent upon what machine is being used.:D

The Bad Pawn

Hey Guvnor,

No argument there. My Cycle zones aer different from my Running zones and swimming HR zones (not that I wear the monitor in the pool:).) I was referring to running above

The Guvnor

At just over 18st I prefer the bike but can run if necessary!:D

I have some data from when I was a bit younger and lighter 14st7-15st - vo2 max tests which gave me my average heart rate and I also used to use the polar for erg sessions. I will dig this out - curious now.

Would love to do more swimming but when it's a 20m 4 ft deep pool - hard to get a time when you are not going to have to avoid each other in the pool!

flywheel

mrpink6789 wrote: »

What I also found is calculating your max heart rate, which zone you should be in etc can be awful confusing. Best thing to do is give 110% every workout and the results will speak for themselves

unless you don't give yourself enough recovery time, then the results may become overtraining...

at the end of the day all the monitor gives you is a number... understanding what that number means at that point in time is the important part, without calibrating it to yourself and also learning to 'feel' your intensity / exertion level while you exercise it won't really be helping your 'training'

have a read of this over the weekend: Joe Friel: Heart Rate and Training


[note to Fitness Forum moderators, I have no commercial affiliation to the content linked to, so no need to delete my posts!]

The Bad Pawn

flywheel wrote: »

unless you don't give yourself enough recovery time, then the results may become overtraining...

at the end of the day all the monitor gives you is a number... understanding what that number means at that point in time is the important part, without calibrating it to yourself and also learning to 'feel' your intensity / exertion level while you exercise it won't really be helping your 'training'

have a read of this over the weekend: Joe Friel: Heart Rate and Training

Agreed

Mellor

The Bad Pawn wrote: »

Mellor it appears you have an inability to read an entire thread (all one page of it). As clearly stated above I say "Everyone is different"

Seeing i mentioned that contradiction in my last post, i would of thought it was obvious that I seen it.

when I said "Generally speaking a HR of 155bpm is a decent guide " perhaps I wasn't clear enough explaining that I meant "myself" that's why I followed it up with:

Actually you said that is what you (as in the OP) should be doing.

Generally speaking a HR of 155bpm is a decent guide to what you should be doing for a sterady cardio workout.

155 may be perfect for him is his MHR is similar to yours, could it could be miles off.

No Mellor, that's called a clarificatrion, heres a dictionary definition of clarification in case you feel like calling somebody else stupid without first engageing your brain. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/clarification
TBP"What you do to train for your marathons, amy not be suitable for everyone." Again congratulations Mellor on stating the obvious I already clarified (remember that word?)this above.

I know what clarification means. i'm not going to be childish and link you to a definition for contradition, surely you can see how if everyone is different that a "guide" is not that useful.
I also never called you stupid, I was the post/guide was stupid. For somebody harping on about reading all one page of a thread you aren't doing very well.



all the best

The Bad Pawn

Mellor......... I'm not going to bother getting stuck in a argument with you, it would be a waste of my time.

Take it or leave it I don't really care, what i've posted is my own opinion

The Bad Pawn wrote: »

The bottom line in this thread is "Heart Rate Monitors: worthwhile?".
From personal experience I'd say yes. Heart rate monitors are a great tool to have available to you but you shouldn't become 100% reliant on them. Using them as a motivational tool or aerobic guide can be very helpful. Some people swear hy the and some people hate them, so I can only give my opinion based on my personal experiences. I came from a rugby background and fround that HR monitors really helped me pace myself when transitioning to running and doing races from 5ks' to marathons to Ironman, but everyone is different. If you have the spare cash and plan on doing cardio there are some decent starter HR monitors out there that will aloow you the beneifit of HR training but without the bells and whistles that you may not need (or want to pay for)

Safe training