Global Sports: Heart Rate Monitor Watches - Deciding If You Need A Monitor

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Heart Rate Monitor Watches - Deciding If You Need A Monitor

By Chris Station


Heart rate monitor watches are useful in improving the performance and overall conditioning level of both athletes and those who'd just like to improve their fitness. A heart monitor watch will let you know exactly how hard you are working based on your heart rate. With this information, you can change your workout if you need to.

Finding a heart monitor that suits your needs is an easy task with so many different models and types of monitors available. Each heart rate monitor has a number of different features. You can choose between a basic model or an advanced model.

Let's take a close look at some basic information about monitors.

If you've decided that it's time to get in shape, the first step is to get involved in some kind of exercise program. For this, you probably only need a basic model. If that's the case, why spend money for features you likely don't need?

But if you think that you may become more seriously involved in a fitness program, in the long term, then you may want to spend a little bit extra now so you can get a few more extras. It's disappointing to get down the road a few months only to realize that you need more features than you have. Unfortunately, you can't upgrade a heart rate monitor.

You may wonder since you're just a beginner if you do really need to use a monitor. The fact is that regardless of your fitness level it's a very good idea to track your heart rate when you exercise. Without a monitor you have to stop your workout for the half minute or so it takes to check your heart rate. You will soon get tired of having to do that. Heart rate monitors do this automatically and the readings are far more accurate.

Maybe you are also wondering why you should bother to track your pulse rate while exercising? So that you can get the best possible workout, you need to be aware of your target heart rate and to stay within the limits.

If your heart rate goes below the target range, it's letting you know that you can safely exert yourself more. However, if your heart rate exceeds the target range, you'll immediately be aware that you're placing some undue stress on your heart and so you need to immediately slow down.

The key to an optimum workout is to keep your heart rate within the targeted range throughout the entire workout.

To find the right model, you'll need to think about your sport or physical activity. Then have a look at the various features of each monitor you look at.

Basic heart rate monitors usually have features that are found on a standard sports watch, like a timer and a stop watch. A feature you might want to consider is the zone alarm. This signals when you get outside the targeted heart rate. By using this alarm, you are ensuring that your workouts stay on track.

Basically, the more that you want your monitor to do, the more it's going to cost. With monitors, every single feature adds to the cost. So, the more elaborate the feature the more it's going to cost. It makes sense that to save some money on a monitor, choose only the specific features that you need.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at the number of useful features that are standard with basic heart rate monitor watches. Unless you are deeply involved in an activity or specific sport that requires some specialized features, a heart monitor that has some basic features might be all you really need.




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