Heart rate moniters

[lpskier]

I just started using a HRM in connection with my winter routine (lift day one, bike day 2, repeat; snow ski (telemark) on weekends). Already I see advantages, for example, competing with myself against my last "score". Does anyone have any suggestions about how to optimize a work out using a HRM? If it makes a difference, mine is a Timex.

[J3]

I trained with a HRM for a few years and found the biggest advantages to be you get immediate feedback or your real work effort, and over time you'll become more aware of your physical state of being.  On training days that I was tired, stressed, or hadn't eaten correctly I'd see a definite increase from my normal heart rate range.  After a while I became really aware of my level of effort and stopped looking at it much.

Here's a link to an article written by Mark Allen (6 time Ironman champ) about heart rate training......this is what sparked my interest.

 http://www.duathlon.com/articles/1460

Great tools, have fun.

[jimbrake]

And, after a periof of using a HRM consistently you get to know your heart rate so well you can estimate where you are within a few beats/minute. You get a sense of which range you're in pretty easily - fat burning or cardio or higher.

[kdeupser]

I use the Garmin Forerunner 305.  I've been a runner all my life, and it's great to be able to come back and download so much information.  When I run I try to keep my heart rate in the 150's.  I find I can hold a comfortable pace there and get a smooth run. 

I haven't tried using it when I ski.  It would be some cool data to have.  Could you imagine looking at the data from saving an OTF.  That would be cool.

Ken

[kona]

"Use the Force Luke" Like Jim mentioned earlier the more you use it the less you need it.

[kstateskier]

what HRM's are you guys using?  I'd like to get one for running, biking and gym.  thanks

[scoke]

Myself and a few others use the Polar series, FS2C and up, with great success.

 

It comes with the chestband strap that pulls the HR directly vs a watch only.

 

the FS2's typically have after action items including "avg, min, max, duration" and a few other things. the FS1 just shows avg but during the activity shows the current HR.

 

next week i plan on posting a comparision to some cardio, ski sets etc.

[skiron07]

I agree with JimB-

After a while you know exactly where you are...

also, fwiw, those guidelines for calculated MHR are mostly junk...you can get your MHR much higher than you think- I'm 52 and have gotten it jacked over 190 on many occasions- 

 in your calculations try to actually achieve your MHR at least once for a benchmark; then subtract out your sleeping/resting HR (RHR) from that to get your working HR zone (WHRZ)...

so when you go back to figure your 60% effort for example you do that on your WHRZ and then add back your RHR- makes a huge difference

for me on my rower (cardio) I'm up to 130 by minute one; get up to 160 by 5 minutes; gradually climb past 170 by 10 minutes; and generally peak at 185 by 15 minutes then gradually work back down

the longer/better you get used to working at your aerobic threshold (about 85% MHR or above 170) the better in shape you'll get

other tip:  you really want to go after it hard, max. OT if you can...while you'll burn calories/fat during any type of workout, if you do it harder and harder, you'll burn many more calories and fat during the rest of the day (aka, raising your metabolism);  if you settle for less stressful efforts the lingering afterburn will be much lower.  the key these days is to go hard/fast w/max effort for about min. 15 minutes or so; if you can squeeze out 18-20 that's fine too; but anything over 20 minutes IMO means you're going too slow!

enjoy the pain

[Stevie Boy]

Interval Training 2minutes 140-150  then 2 minutes 165-170 repeat as many times as you can handle, rowing, cross trainer, bike or running the choice is yours.

Or

12 clean & jerk, 12 squats, 12 lunges (six on each leg) 12 straight lifts.

30 secs rest then go again.

Aim for 5 sets do not go to heavy to start with, stay light, after the first 3 sets you will  be gasping for air, well I am anyway.

I am trying, got to get that weight off. 

 

[skiron07]

I also do HIITS (high intensity interval training) on days that I feel a tad weak and don't feel I can put up my normal numbers but I do it more like 60 sec max-OT (around 1:35 split for 500m) followed by 60 sec of paddling (around 2:00 split for 500m)...while the max-OT portion is very demanding the paddling allows me to catch my wind so this type of session seems easier to me compared to my normal routine noted previously (where I'm sucking wind from minute one until the 15-19 min. mark).

These HIITs are usually reserved for Fridays due to the cumulative nature of 4-5 consecutive max-OT days BUT are much more similar to a slalom set...but IMO, one has to establish a large aerobic platform initially before one starts to tailer workouts back down to sport specific sizing

sounds so frickin easy on paper

[h2odawg79]

HIIT if you want to Lose the Fat and retain the Muscle.

Go spastic MHR to lose wgt.... Wgt. ='s Fat, Muscle, water...

[Donski]

Check out the Garmin 310xt if you want a do it all GPS with HRM. One of my mountain bike friend uses his for cross training and loves it.

It would interesting to see what your Max speed was after a slalom set.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2009/09/garmin-forerunner-310xt-in-depth-review.html

[Ed_Obermeier]

Any suggestions for a decent, inexpensive heart rate monitor, say under $40?  Is there even such a thing as "a decent, inexpensive heart rate monitor under $40?"  All I need is heart rate and maybe a countdown timer function, heart rate wouldn't even have to be knats eyelash accurate.

Ed

[skiron07]

just go Polar and be done with it...about $75 I think

gold standard

 

[adam]

I have a Polar and a Garmin 305.  My HR tends to be through the roof.  I try to keep it below 200, but can easily go over that.  If I run a race, I can hit 210+ at the end.  Some of it may be that I try to do what I did when I was younger and in better shape.  I'm 45 now.  I've had two stress tests at the Dr's office over the years, and the HR monitors seem to correspond to what the Dr's were seeing too.  I like the garmin chest strap because it has a replaceable battery.  I like the Polar because I can use the chest strap on most treadmills including mine at home, but I don't like the fact that the chest straps don't have replaceable batteries.  They have lasted for several years though.  I like taking the Polar chest strap with me on travel because that is usually all I need to run on the Hotel treadmills.  If I just go for a run outdoors, I take the Garmin since it is much more advanced than the Polar version I have.  I have noticed that as I train more, my HR goes down for the same level of effort.  Both of my HR monitors were a good bit more than $40.  I justified it because I didn't want to skimp on my health.  If you just want something basic and versatile that provides real time information, I'd go with the cheapest Polar with a  chest strap. 

Adam

[colo_skier]

One of the more interesting pieces of information that a HR monitor gives me is the time to recover from max HR to an acceptable rate. I find this comes in really useful when mountain biking here in Colorado.  I use it to try to guage the amount of effort I can exert on a hard climb so that I can adequately recover prior to the next climb. It helps to know the trails pretty well also. Its also nice to get feedback when your improving.

[Horton]

Not exacty what you guys are talking about but....

I am using BodyMedia. http://www.bodymedia.com/ The web site shows chubbie ladies on the home page. . . . bad marketing but it works for me.

it tracks  "Calories Burned", "Calories Consumed" &  "Physical Activity".

This number is suspect but I have lost 5 pounds in 3 weeks. (from highest weigh in to lowest - I know that is sort of BS)

Tracking all food intake and seeing data on calories burned is a big psychological help. I am a data guy. Show me the data and I will act.

Only down side is Gallagher is mad that I will not alow any alcohol in the house.

[kstateskier]

No wonder Gallagher keeps showing up at my house http://www.ballofspray.com/vanillaforum/js/tinymce/jscripts/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif