Back when heart rate monitors were first developed they were mainly used in hospitals or for medical purposes. Today heart monitor watches can serve several purposes. Although they are certainly still important medically, monitors today are widely used by athletes or anyone working to improve their level of fitness.
Heart monitor watches are used first and foremost as a means of counting how many times a heart beats within a certain specific period of time. This is the primary purpose whether they are being used medically or by athletes. But today's monitors are vastly different from original monitors.
Heart monitor watches today help with fitness training for both serious athletes and the casual exerciser. Some monitors come with several basic features while other monitors are more advanced. It depends on what you want to measure as well as what you want to keep track of.
Many monitors will assess your overall level of fitness when you are at rest. When heart rate is combined with other data such as age, the on-board computer can estimate your optimum number of beats per minute, known as BPM. You will then be able to plan a training program to keep your heart rate at the right level.
Once you know what your ideal BPM is you may want to look for a monitor with a zone alarm. This is a basic but important feature. It helps you to maintain your workout in a range that is optimum for you, so you can exercise safely while still challenging yourself. The alarm works by signaling when you exceed either upper or lower limits of heart rate.
Along with a zone alarm, many monitors will measure the number of calories that are burned during a workout. Fitness buffs find that this motivates them to keep working out. It also seems to be a great incentive for beginners because they can see right away how many calories are being burned during their workout.
A heart monitor watch is designed to keep track of a great deal of information. This is useful in that it helps you to get the most out of a workout. Besides calories burned, these monitor watches will track average heart rate, total time spent in a workout, the number of sessions you've completed, and more.
Advanced models allow you to upload information that your monitor has gathered to a website maintained by the company. This website recommends a specific training program based on your exercise goals in combination with the reasons why you are working out. Goals can be such things as weight loss or improved fitness levels.
Monitors designed to be used by athletes are usually waterproof and will have a back-light to enable viewing if you are exercising in the dark. You can count on them being rugged enough to withstand some abuse.
Most heart rate monitors come in two separate parts; the watch and the strap that fits around the chest. The strap is the part that measures the heart rate and then sends this information to the watch.
Although this type of heart monitor produces the most accurate results, some find the band uncomfortable. Women sometimes have difficulty getting it to fit properly. This can result in readings that are inaccurate. Today there are wrist heart rate monitors that work without having to wear the strap.
Heart monitor watches can help to improve the effectiveness of your training or fitness program, while ensuring that your workout is safe by monitoring your heart rate. Whether you are someone who is just starting out or someone who is committed to maintaining a high level of fitness, there is a heart rate monitor ideal for you.
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