Global Sports: Just The Basics On Heart Monitor Watches

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Just The Basics On Heart Monitor Watches

By Chris Station


When heart rate monitors were just developed they were used in hospitals or for medical purposes for the most part. Today heart monitor watches have several different purposes. Although they are without doubt still medically important, monitors today are used widely by many athletes and those working to improve their fitness level.

Heart monitor watches are used primarily as a means to count how many times a heart beats within a specific time frame. This is their number one purpose regardless of whether they're being used medically or by athletes. Today's monitors are vastly different than the original monitors.

Heart monitor watches help greatly with the training programs of both serious athletes and casual exerciser. Many monitors have just a few basic features. Others are multi-featured. It really depends on what you need to measure and what you need to keep track of.

Many monitors assess overall fitness level while you are at rest. Combining heart rate and some other data like age enables the on-board computer to make an estimate about your ideal beats per minute (BPM). At that point you can plan an exercise program that'll keep your heart rate at the correct level for you.

Once you find out what the optimum BPM is you can take a look for a monitor with a zone alarm. This feature is one that you may find it hard to do without once you've experienced it. That's because a zone alarm helps you maintain a workout in a range that is ideal for you. When you keep yourself within this range, you are safely exercising while still challenging yourself.

The alarm works by emitting a signal when you exceed the upper or lower limits of your heart rate.

Along with a zone alarm, many monitors also measure the number of calories that are being burned during your workout. Many fitness buffs get a lot of motivation from this and so continue working out. It's also a good incentive for beginners who can see how many calories they're burning during a workout.

A heart monitor watch can track quite a bit of information. This is very useful in helping you to get the absolute most out of your workout time. Aside from tracking the number of calories burned, these watches also keep track of the average heart rate over a specific period of time, number of sessions you've completed, as well as total time spent in working out, and more.

Advanced models will allow you to upload data collected by the monitor, onto a website which is maintained by the company. This website can then recommend a specific training program which will be based on your exercise goals and your reasons for working out. Goals might be weight loss or improved fitness levels.

Monitors that have been designed to be utilized by athletes are usually waterproof and will have a back-light so you are able to view the watch while you are working out, even if it's dark out. These watches can definitely take some abuse because they are designed to be tough.

The most common set-up for a heart rate monitor is for it to have two separate components. These are the watch and the band or strap which fits around the chest. The strap is what actually measures heart rate and then transmits this data to the watch.

Although this type of heart monitor does produce the most accurate results, some individuals find the band uncomfortable. Women will sometimes find it difficult to get the chest strap to fit properly. This can result in inaccurate readings. Today there are increasingly popular wrist heart rate monitors. These work without having to wear the chest strap.

Heart monitor watches can increase the effectiveness of your fitness or training program while keeping you safe at the same time. They do that by monitoring your heart rate. So whether you're a serious athlete or you just want to get serious about your level of fitness, a heart rate monitor can help you.




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