FitSugar -- Healthy, happy you.

Do You Wear a Heart Rate Monitor?

FitSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:30:00 -0700

I used to never wear a heart rate monitor, but now I love working out with one. In fact, on the days I forget it, I feel totally naked. I realize that not everyone wears a heart rate monitor, so I am curious about you guys. Do you wear a heart rate monitor while exercising? If you're looking for a brand-new heart rate monitor, I'm giving three away for free! All you have to do is take this quiz to be eligible. The contest ends today at 1 p.m. PDT, so make sure to take the quiz soon.Source

Do You Wear a Heart Rate Monitor?

Yes, always

Yes, sometimes

No, never

Other — tell us below

Guess Who?

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:30:00 -0800

Guess which new mom used a heart rate monitor to get back to her prebaby body?

Buh-Bump HRM Electrode Cream

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

Many people get frustrated with their heart rate monitors (HRM) because if they have dry skin, don't sweat a lot, or any other reason (hairy chest), the HRM ends up not functioning the way it should.

HRM technology is based on reading the body's electric current, which varies from person to person. To ensure a proper heart rate display, heart rate monitor manufacturers stress the importance of wet electrodes, which is why most HRM users lick or spit on their transmitters. While saliva does work for some people, others find it gross, unsanitary, and ineffective. If you've found that your HRM does not seem to be working the way it should be all the time then you may want to consider getting an electrode cream to help the issue. Buh-Bump HRM Electrode Cream is one that a few of my pals use and swear by it. My HRM seems to work fine without it, but if you're having problems it's worth a shot at $5.95. Just two little dabs on the transmitter is all it takes, so one bottle should last you a while.

Get in Gear: Fitness Monitor

FitSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:45:00 -0700

Want to monitor your heart rate during a workout but can't stand the chest strap or touching the sweaty sensors on the cardio machines at the gym?

The Mark of Fitness MF-180 ($67.95) is a continuous reading chest-belt-free exercise heart rate monitor that allows easy, accurate and reliable determination of calories burned. The semi-glove design with base of finger sensing makes it look like something out of transformers, but would be ideal for anyone who does not like the chest strap. Since it doesn't use a transmitter, it's free from the interference problems. This is really cool since when my husband and I run together I often look down at my watch and freak out because my heart rate is at 250, a result of my monitor picking up his signal. If you have a hard time keeping in your target heart rate zone, the MF-180 has an out of zone alarm, to let you know if you need to pick it up or slow it down.

For me, the glove design seems a little cumbersome, but I am one of the few that loves my chest strap. Interested? Buy it from ActiveForever.com.

Heart Rate Monitor Winner!!!!

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 17:47:15 -0700

It is beyond great to see that so many FitSugar readers are excited about heart rate monitors. Although you are all enthusiastic and many left wonderful comments as to why they should win, there can only be one winner.

I randomly selected a winner - Congratulations Alice Green!!! The Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor is yours!

I hope this heart rate monitor helps her get in the zone!

Win a Polar Heart Rate Monitor!

FitSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:02:38 -0700

Have you already left a comment to enter the drawing for a heart rate monitor? If not, TOMORROW (8/31) IS THE LAST DAY you can enter the contest (before 5pm PT). So read on and write something, anything really, in the comment section below. (If you have already entered, remember just one entry per person - all repeat comments will be ignored.)

I "heart" my heart rate monitor. It is true! I honestly can't imagine working out without it. So I wanted to spread the love and give away a F11 heart rate monitor by Polar!

The Polar F11 heart rate monitor is the next best thing to having a personal trainer - it's like wearing fitness guru Harley Pasternak on your wrist. Along with tracking your heart rate and calories burned, the F11 will guide you to your personal goals by determining your fitness level, tracking your improvements and providing motivation. You can also wear this heart rate monitor in a group class without worrying about interference from other heart rate monitors. Plus the transmitter, which you wear around your chest, is made of soft fabric so it is comfy.

Enter to win the heart rate monitor by leaving a comment below - no duplicates please. You do need to be a TeamSugar member to comment. So if you're not already a member, just register here for an account and to join in all the fun on the Sugar Sites! Interested in more details? Click here for the Official Rules.

I will randomly select the winner on Friday, August 31st at 5:00 pm, Pacific Time. Make sure to leave your comment before then and don't forget to e-mail this to your fitness fanatic friends or the gym newbies in your life!

For more images of the F11 and the transmitter

Get in Gear: Basic Heart Rate Monitor Polar FS1

FitSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:30:00 -0700

If you're new to doing cardio such as biking or running, and you want to know if you are working at the right intensity for your body, using a heart rate monitor is a great idea. Whether you are doing cardio to lose weight, for fun, or to build your endurance for competitions, a heart rate monitor will give you an accurate readout of how hard your heart is working.

Shopping for a heart rate monitor can be a bit overwhelming since there are so many different kinds. Plus they can be pretty pricey depending on how many bells and whistles they come with. If you are just starting out, there's no reason to spend tons of money if all you want to track is your heart rate.

The Polar FS1 heart rate monitor is a great, basic monitor. The black transmitter band goes against your skin and around your chest (you can stick it under the elastic of your sports bra). The watch on your wrist watch continuously tracks your heart rate so you'll know when you reach your target heart zone. The watch even gives you visual and audible alarms to keep you in your target zone. The watch also keeps track of how long you've been exercising, so you can figure out how long you've been "in the zone" during your workout.

You can order one from REI.com for only $59.95, which is an awesome deal on a basic heart rate monitor. When you use one, you can actually track your progress and see improvement in your endurance, so I found that it was just the thing to motivate me to workout.

Not sure what your target heart rate is? Check out the FitSugar calculator it will help you find your zone.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Polar Heart Bra

FitSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 02:00:00 -0700

If you haven't already noticed, I am a bit obsessed with fitness gear. I love my heart rate monitor so much, but when I get overly sweaty, it does have the tendency to slip down my torso.

Several companies have caught on and made sports bras with heart rate monitors built into them, but Polar has created the Heart Rate Bra ($34.95), a bra that enables you to slip the transmitter belt into it when you want. You can also take the transmitter out when you don't want to use it, making this bra very versatile. The sports bra itself is made from Dry Wear technology that wicks moisture away from your body and the contoured shoulder strap with a deep T-back makes it a comfortable fit too. If you've ever suffered from your transmitter rubbing your skin the wrong way (ouch), then you may benefit from this bra as well. You can buy it from Amazon.com. Buyers beware: Transmitters are not included with the bra purchase.

Should You Get a Heart Rate Monitor?

FitSugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 04:00:00 -0700

You've heard me talking about them and you've probably seen them on people at the gym: Heart Rate Monitors. Duh, duh dom.

I know they can seem scary and you may be thinking my heart is fine, I don't need to monitor it. True as that may be, heart rate monitors are used as a training tool more than a heart health monitoring device. They are not only for people with known heart conditions, everyone can benefit from wearing a heart rate monitor but some people will benefit more than others.

OK, so is it right for you? If you've ever thought one (or more) of the following, then I'd say you'd benefit from a heart rate monitor:

"I think I am getting a great workout, though I don't seem to be breaking a sweat."
"How do I know if I am really working out?"
"When I try and take my pulse, I often feel like I miscount or miss a beat."
"I want to try to use a variety of machines, but I am worried that I am not going to know if I am getting an effective workout from machine to machine."
"Sometimes I think my heart is going to pop out of my chest because it is beating so fast -- How do I know if it's beating too fast?"
"I have a really hard time holding on to those sensors on the machine while I am exercising and they never seem to really work anyway."
"I would like to shorten my workouts once a week by training really hard for a shorter period of time, but I am not sure how I will know if I am accomplishing this."
"I love this beginner group class I have been taking for a few months now, but should I move onto the intermediate level?"
"How do I know if I am warming-up or cooling-down?"

A heart rate monitor really takes the guessing out of working out. All you have to do is know where you would like your target heart rate to be and keep on keeping out until it gets there. Once you get there, keep it there. Can't get it there, work harder. Simple, eh? Not sure what your target heart rate should be? Check out Fit's Calculator to find out. There are lots of great heart rate monitors out there, but a good one to start is the Polar SF3.

What's My Target Heart Rate?

FitSugar — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:00:00 -0700

When you're working out, it's important to know what your target heart rate is so you can maximize your exercise time. You want to get your heart rate up high enough that you are working your heart and lungs, but not so high that you can't maintain your pace and need to stop.

Your target heart rate is a zone between 50-85% of your maximum heart rate and it is measured in "beats per minute" (BPM). This means you are working hard, but not working as hard as you possibly could.
You can enter your stats in Fit's Calculator to figure out what your specific target heat rate is for your age, height, and weight.

Or you can use this chart to find out where your target heart rate should be, depending on the age that is closest to yours.

Age in Years	Target Heart Rate Zone in BPM	Average Maximum Heart Rate in BPM
20	100-170	200
25	98-166	195
30	95-162	190
35	93-157	185

You can test your heart rate by checking your pulse on your wrist or neck. Or you can wear a heart rate monitor if you don't want to be bothered with counting your breaths while exercising. I for one, love my heart rate monitor.

If you don't want to bother with either, than use the conversation pace test. If you can sing while maintaining your level of movement, than you're not working hard enough. If you can talk while moving, that's a pretty good pace, but try to push a little past there. If you can't even waste your breath to grunt an answer to a yes/no question, then you are working too hard.

Fit's Tips: If you're just beginning to do cardio, you want to aim for your lowest target heart rate. So if you were 25 years old, you'd want to be working out at a pace of 98 beats per minute. As you continue working out, gradually build up to the middle part of your target heart rate, around 134 beats per minute.

Does the Calorie Readout on My Cardio Machine Work?

FitSugar — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 03:07:12 -0800

Can you trust the calorie display on your favorite cardio machines?

You may have already noticed that you can use an elliptical one day and a different elliptical (different brand) another day and burn a totally different calorie amount even though you did the same amount of work. Frustrating, I know.

Basically you should use the calorie readout only as a guideline but not as the end-all-be-all of how many calories you burned. The displays on cardio machines are notorious for being inaccurate and some machines are known to bump up the calorie readout by almost 25% (feel good factor keeps you using their machines, it's a little like vanity sizing in clothing). The reasoning for the inaccuracies are that the machines do not consider factors in individual fitness levels and the specificity of the exercise. Also they are not usually re-calibrated after hitting the gym floor.

Want tips on how to get the most accurate calorie readout? Then

Fight Heart Disease with a Red NuMetrex Sports Bra

FitSugar — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 02:30:00 -0800

I've told you how much I love NuMetrex's fabulous heart rate monitoring sports bras, but I just found another reason to love them even more.

In honor of American Heart Month, they've designed a limited edition red NuMetrex bra ($49.50). A donation of $5.00 from the sale of each bra will go to the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women program. Buy it directly from the NuMetrex site.

So go ahead and get yourself one, it's now a matter of the heart.

Get Your Butt in Gear: Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bra

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 04:00:00 -0800

Some people are against wearing a heart rate monitor while they workout because they feel it would be annoying to wear the strap around your lower chest. While I feel zero discomfort whatsoever wearing my strap, you may want to try going strap free.

The NuMetrex Heart Rate Monitoring Sports Bra ($49.50) works with the Polar WearLink Transmitter and compatible watches. It also connects with most fitness machines like spinning bikes and elliptical trainers with integrated monitoring devices.

The NuMetrex Heart Rate Monitor Sports Bra gives you the power of a heart rate monitor with the freedom of strap-free wear. Buy one on Numatrex.com.

Not sure what your target heart rate is? Check out the Fit Calculator to find out!

Get in Gear: Heart Rate Monitor

FitSugar — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 12:30:00 -0800

OK so after playing around in the Fit's Calculator, you've figured out that you don't like taking your heart rate manually -- Too much work involved.

You've probably seen other people sporting their heart rate monitor watches at the gym but are you a little intimidated by them? It seems a little scary to go to the store and buy your own, especially when you may have no idea what you are getting yourself into.

The term Heart Rate Monitor sounds like it is straight out of the hospital, complete with suction cups leading to wires stuck all over your body. But most heart rate monitors are just a non-conspicuous (and wireless) strap that you put around your upper body (just below your breast line). It tracks your heart and sends the information to your watch or the machine your are using. Almost all newer cardio machines will read the signal as well. No more awkwardly holding on to the sensors while you are running on the treadmill.

For a good starter watch, I love the Polar SF3 ($69.95). It does everything a normal watch does and reads your heart rate. The watch comes with the strap and does not have all the bells and whistles some HRM watches come with, so it's easy to get started. Buy it here.

Want to know what your Target Heart Rate is, then go to Fit's Calculator!

Fit's Tip: Tracking your heart rate is a great way to really get the most out of your work out.