The Heart Rate Monitor Training Method.
Focused Workouts. Real Results.

Heart rate monitor training is a method that can very well lead to better health, fitness and wellness.

Also dubbed (perhaps more appropriately) heart rate zone training, this method is an effective approach to help maximize the benefits of cardiovascular exercise.

It's benefits will help the 20 year old taking athletic enhancement to new levels, the 80 year old getting started to stay healthy and fight disease and anyone in between. The road to better all-around fitness is paved smooth with this method.

I firmly believe that anyone can use this method to create real change. The goal of these pages is to bring it all together in an easy-to-understand, ready-to-apply format.

First, let's break down the name of this method for a bit of insight into it's importance in improving cardiovascular training.

• Heart Rate: The frequency with which the heart pumps blood and oxygen to working muscles. Usually expressed in beats per minute (bpm) it is the most practical measure of cardiovascular intensity.

  The heart is a muscle that, like other muscles, needs to be exercised regularly to be strong and efficient. This is the most important muscle you've got, don't neglect it!

• Zone: A heart rate zone is a specific range of heart beats that are used to determine exercise intensity. These zones divide your available training heart rates into five distinct training zones. Each zone has specific changes that will occur as a result of exercise time spent in that zone.
• Training: Training is exercising in order to achieve a specific goal. Shed a few pounds, increase energy or just feel better about yourself. All your favorite activities can be utilized to achieve your goals. Measuring the training intensity of each workout in the form of heart beats per minute, will help you to focus your workouts.

An Introduction to Heart Rate Monitor Training

Exercising at the right intensity, for the right amount of time, and with proper frequency is the key to unlocking effective cardiovascular workouts. Frequency and time are easy to quantify but intensity is more of a challenge. Most often we do this with an arbitrary assessment of how we feel.

As a result most people train at a level too high or too low to obtain maximum fitness and health benefits for their desired goals.

Heart rate monitor training provides an effective way to measure the intensity of a workout. The result? A better understanding of the effects on the body. Measuring a workout's intensity improves efficiency and makes it possible to accomplish more in a shorter amount of time.

For example, take Joe a 52 year old former client of mine who was overweight, overstressed, and downright crabby when I first met him. He loved swimming but wasn't losing much weight as a result of his efforts. He didn't have the money for a personal trainer so I recommended he start applying heart rate monitor training to his swimming workouts. I gave him a quick lesson and sent him on his way.

About three months later I ran into Joe on my way out of the gym and could barely believe my eyes. He was full of energy and, with a big smile, proudly showed me his belt with five freshly punched holes. The belt looked ridiculous as it was now much too big, but it was his trophy. Needless to say, seeing Joe that evening made my day.

Using the simple, effective method of heart rate monitor training can help you achieve similar results.

It's important to note that in order to achieve your goals you must be willing to make exercise a consistent part of your life. Heart rate monitor training is not a magical formula. It is, however, an effective means of focusing and understanding your workouts to help get the most out of your training.

Ready to Get Started With Heart Rate Monitor Training?

Cardiovascular training can be confusing. Actually, let me say that another way. An abundance of hyped up, contradictory information on how to properly use cardio training makes it seem confusing, even complex.

I've talked with many people that continually put off starting a cardio program because they haven't a clue where to begin! Other folks get started and put in the effort but constantly wonder how effective their training really is. Heck, my own dad said to me the other day, "I don't know what I'm doing but as long as my body is moving that's good enough right!" (I laughed and told him to read my website to see what he's been missing!)

To counteract this confusion, I'm going to give you the tools necessary to make your training simple. Simple to understand and simple to implement.

There are several terms that are important to a complete understanding of heart rate training and why it works. Click on each term below to learn more:

• Lactate Threshold - Also known as anaerobic threshold, this measurement is the foundation for determining your heart rate zones.
• Heart Rate Chart - Once you have measured your Lactate Threshold you can use this heart rate chart to determine your personal training zones. It's all broken down for you step-by-step.
• Maximum Heart Rate - Many variations of heart rate monitor training advocate using this measurement to determine your training zones. Find out exactly what it is and why it is NOT the most effective measurement to use in determining your zones.
• Resting Metabolic Rate
• Resting Heart Rate

The power of this method and the heart of its effectiveness (pun intended!) lie in the user's ability to understand the distinct benefits happening in each zone. Understanding the objective, application, and feeling of each zone will give you the knowledge necessary to properly understand what is happening in your body while you exercise. This knowledge can help you to take control of your workouts by exercising at the proper intensity to achieve your specific goals.

Remember my former client Joe? His biggest problem was that he didn't understand what he was telling his body to do. He worked out a ton but wasn't seeing the results he was seeking. As soon as he learned to communicate with his body his workouts became much more effective.

Monitoring Your Heart Rate

To utilize heart rate monitor training it is important to be able to monitor your heart rate during exercise. This can be done one of two ways: find the pulse in your wrist for a rough measurement or use a heart rate monitor for a precise measurement.

It is possible to utilize this method of training without a heart rate monitor. However, if you have the means to invest in one I highly recommend it. Using a very basic monitor is much more accurate and efficient than manually monitoring your heart rate.

Monitors range greatly in price and functionality. In order to fit yourself with the right monitor (don't buy features you don't need), make sure to check out the heart rate monitor reviews before pulling the trigger on a new monitor.

Apply Heart Rate Monitor Training to Create A Workout Program

We've covered the essential elements necessary to start taking advantage of heart rate monitor training right away. You can bring it all together by taking a look at the four factors of an aerobic workout routine:

• Frequency - how often should you exercise?
• Time - how long should you exercise?
• Intensity - how hard should you exercise?
• Type - what exercises should you do? (Whatever you enjoy!)

Clicking here will take you to a page devoted to helping you to apply heart rate monitor training to create a personal workout program.

Within ten minutes you'll have everything you need to put together a workout program that will guide you to your goals.

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