Does anybody have any advice about which heart rate monitor to buy? Does anybody else use one? Thanks

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/117/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

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i've used Polar for years.

they will have a very basic model - or as "fancy" as you want to go,
but the dollar amount goes up with each goodie that is added.

the last one I bought was $80
the first one was the basic $50 one that just give your HR

the one i have will give you an average HR for the entire workout and you can set things like a target HR zone, min and max HR, time & date... but i think that's about it.

i've had this one about 3 yrs.

i think their web site is something like Polarusa.com

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Thanks, does it have the chest strap? Do you think that would be better than one that doesn't have a chest strap?

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Deb 5', 57 yrs., Atkins 6/9/03:175
Restart 10/1/05-155
Restart 9/18/06-156
Restart 1/2/08-159/117/115
Rung 4 berries but Carnivorous currently

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

as far as i know... you have to have a chest strap (I didnt know they made them without)

that is how your HR is monitored... I've seen monitors sold as "chest strap" only, without the "watch" but not reversed

the newest ones are just worn like a watch - your heart rate is taken via your radial pulse (in your wrist).
but the chest strap monitors are said to be a bit more accurate.
i have been thinking about investing in a monitor of some sort, too ........
they say you can really be wasting your time (working out) if you're not in your tartet zone (too low, too high).
terese, how do you use yours? did you find that you had to change your workouts once you started monitoring?

I have worn one and teach with them now and again. I have one and once youget used to the strap, it tucks nicely next to the bra strap and you barely notice it is there...the problem is getting a good resting rate in most as it doesn't work perfectly until you are pretty sweaty in my experience. The can be motivating if you work that way and you definitely know when you are working at target, but they tend to be expensive if you want one that keeps track of anything-the basic models can be as cheap as around $30 but the better ones are around 50-80 and tend to last a long time too...the only problem with Polar is that you can't change the batteries yourself--you have to send them back to the company and that runs into money. Most batteries last around 2 years and as long as 3 depending on the number of uses they get each week.

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

I've been using one for so long, I dont recall ever having to change up my workouts... and i do have to say, I really miss not having it when i forget to put it on.

I try to vary my workouts a lot, and shoot for a different HR each time.

when weight training, I try to keep it at least 120 -- though it will spike to 160ish if i'm moving fast (lunges) -- I do a lot of super sets or tri sets so i'm moving a lot.

If i'm doing cardio -- HIIT (interval training)
I work in a range (IE- 150-170bpm)
if i'm doing low intensity long duration, I shoot for averaging 140-150, and not hitting a max - but if i do, only for a short time. (keeping my max at around 155/160)

I have my "watch" set so an alarm goes off if i dip below 140 and my max set at 184... though since just adding another year to my age, I really need to redo my numbers since I haven't done so since i was about 35, and my resting HR was 51.... now it's about 59/60bpm.

right now (the past few months) I've been using a maxHR of 175, but still shoot for keeping it above 140. I feel good if I average 150 for a 45min workout.

HTH

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