What is the purpose of a heart rate monitor?

You see them at the gym and running down the trails. You even see them on your home workout DVD’s being used by the trainers and the exercisers alike. But what is the purpose of a heart rate monitor exactly? Well, there are several reasons one may want to use a heart rate monitor. Depending on your fitness goals and your current shape, your reasons could be different. In the case of most workout programs, however, the reason to use a heart rate monitor is to ensure you get the absolute most out of your workouts.

A heart rate monitor reads the electrical signal of your heart. They process this electric beat with a small computer, relaying to you just how many times your heart is beating per minute. Some more high tech heart rate monitors can track the history of your heart rate and let you know how long you spend at a certain rate.

What is the purpose of a heart rate monitor? In most cases people use them to ensure they are getting the most out of their workouts.

This brings us to the question what is the purpose of a heart rate monitor and how can you use one in your daily workouts. With each workout you want to be working in a target heart rate zone. This means you want to have your heart rate elevated just enough to ensure your heart and your body is both getting an optimal workout. When you work within the target heart rate zone you will burn maximum calories, leading to better workout results.

Your target heart rate can be determined in a number of ways. Check out this chart from the American Heart Association basing your target heart rate on your age and a series of averages. If you want a more precise number, try this formula that uses your resting heart rate to calculate.

Once you know your target heart rate it becomes apparent what is the purpose of a heart rate monitor. Workout without enough intensity and you won’t see the results you want. Workout too hard and you run the risk of overdoing it.

For more information on using a heart rate monitor, type “heart rate monitor” in the blog search box above and to your right. There you will find several posts with valuable information.