heart rate - Exercise & Fitness Message Board

Exile · 11-19-2002, 06:34 PM

I have seen a few posts here in the past about the ideal heart rate for cardio exercises, but is it bad if you go over them?

I just started working out today, after not doing much for a couple of months. I was doing some cardio today on the treadmill and on another machine (im not sure what it is called) and my heart rate was at 200 or above for alot of the exercise. i know that the sensors on the machines are not always accurate, but both of them were giving me similar numbers. Is having your heart rate this high unsafe? Should i be taking it slower? Is this elevated heart rate just because i have not worked out in a while, and the body is not used to it? if this is so, should i expect it to drop as i work out more?

I hope this isnt too hard to understand, i have a tendency just to put all my thoughts down, with out organizing them at all.

Naxis · 11-20-2002, 10:08 AM

If it is _actually_ around 200 bpm, yes. That is very high... unless you are a humming bird. However... do not trust the machines. Useless, useless, useless... check it yourself. If that still is the case, slow down some. As you work out more, the body gets stronger and more efficient and won't demand so much from the heart to get the oxygen it needs. Check rates, based on age. That will give you a good idea of what to aim for.

------------------
Keep your body lean, your blood clean and your mind sharp. -Rollins

Sinnrah · 11-20-2002, 11:17 AM

Hi,

I was noticing that my heart rate got up to like 175 yesterday.

I am tiny and thought my heart could explode. But then I thought there is no way those machines can be accurate.

I did burn a heck of a lot of calories though.

sinn

humorme · 11-20-2002, 01:52 PM

I follow this equation for maximum heart rate:

220 - age = maximum heart rate

I am 38 years old and my maximum heart rate (mhr) is calculated to be 182.

From what I have learned, there are 5 heart rate zones for exercise:

Red Line: 90 - 100% of mhr
Anaerobic: 80 - 89% of mhr
Aerobic: 70 - 79% of mhr
Weight Management: 60 - 69% of mhr
Weight Loss: 50 - 59% of mhr

I try to keep my workouts in the range of the Aerobic and Anaerobic zones, but mostly aerobic. I find it takes longer to recover from exercise if my exercise intensity is too high. I have read that if you stay above the anaerobic zone too long, you will burn mostly glycogen (short term fuel) and not burn fat.

I recommend a heart rate monitor for an accurate assessment of your heart rate. Basic models are relatively inexpensive. Many cardio machines, at health clubs today, are able to transmit your heart rate to these monitors.

Naxis · 11-20-2002, 02:47 PM

There are a lot of variations of zones... I dont particularly agree with the one listed above as far as "weight loss" and "weight management" are concerned, but just for the sake of comparison there is also:

5 zones:
1 - 50-60% max Healthy Heart Zone
2 - 60-70% max Temperate Zone (fat burning zone)
3 - 70-80% max Aerobic Zone (50/50 carb/fat)
4 - 80-90% max Anaerobic Thershold
5 - 90-100% max Redline Zone (interval training)

2 zones
1 - 50-65% max Fat Burning Zone
2 - 65-85% max Cardio Zone

Depends on what your goal is and your ability.

------------------
Keep your body lean, your blood clean and your mind sharp. -Rollins