Although there are many indicators (breathing rate, physical sense) of how you are doing during exercise, none is more accurate than measurement with digital heart rate monitors. You can plan how long, how fast and how hard you want to train.

The Benefits of Using Digital Heart Rate Monitors

Why is it important to monitor your heart rate when you exercise?

• Your heart rate is an accurate indicator of the intensity of your exercise.
• Knowing the intensity of your exercise will help you plan a more effective training.
• Monitoring your heart rate will prevent you from over or under trained.
• The data recorded during training can help you to analyze your progress
• Helps you fine-tune your training for the best results

Everyone reacts to physical strain differently, depending on physical fitness level, health condition and personal lifestyle. The reactions to physical stress can be accurately measured with digital heart rate monitors. No matter what is your goal for exercise, you will be more motivated when you can see your improvement through the records of digital heart rate monitors.

Your Training Session

Regardless of the type of sport you are training in, warming-up before the training and cooling-down gradually at the end of training are very important to fitness improvement and to prevent injuries. Provide recovery times after a training session is crucial to fitness, as well. 

Warm-up

A proper warm-up before a training session prepares your heart and muscles for the stress that lies ahead. It stimulates blood circulation and makes muscles relax and flexible. Warming-up slowly for 5 to 10 minutes below your heart rate target zone and gradually increase the intensity of your exercise until your heart rate reaches your target zone.

Training in Target Zone

Once your heart rate has reached your target zone, maintain that intensity for about 20 minutes or more and make sure to stay inside your target zone. Keep your pace and do not push yourself over your target zone.

Cool-Down and Stretching

To cool down, gradually reducing the intensity of your exercise to bring your heart rate down to below your target zone. Do some light stretching to relax your muscles.

After a training session, make sure you give yourself enough rest and  recovery before going for another training session.

Most importantly, do an analysis with the data recorded with your digital heart rate monitors and plan your next training session accordingly.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

Development of Polar Heart Rate Monitors

Polar was established in the city of Oulu, Finland and started to research and development of heart rate monitors since 1977. In 1979, Polar filed their first patent for wireless heart rate monitor. In 1982, Polar launch their first wireless wearable heart rate monitor. From then on, Polar heart rate monitors have led the way and improved the effectiveness in sport training for all athletes.

After 30 years of innovation in research and development, Polar has produced a wide range of heart rate monitors covering the most basic model to sophisticated model which incorporated GPS in the design. Polar is specialized in heart rate monitors for sport training and produced intelligence instruments that guide you on how much, how often and how hard to train. Many of their innovative products are based on feedback from people using their products.

Sport Training With Polar Heart Rate Monitors

Why training with a heart rate monitor is important for everyone? A good and effective training doesn’t mean working harder, faster and longer. Training at the right intensity and for the right amount of time is the best way for improvement and getting results. With the help of a heart rate monitor, you can make sure that your every training session is more effective and produce better result. Polar heart rate monitors consist of various models catering for different sports.

Different Range of Polar Heart Rate Monitors

The Get Active Series

Models Ft4 & FT7 for those who want to know if they’re improving their fitness or burning fat with display of calories burned.

Models FT1 & FT2 for those who want an easy start to fitness with heart rate based training. Help improve fitness with safe exercise and heart rate target zone.

The Improve Fitness Series

Model FT80 for fitness enthusiasts who want to improve strength and cardio.

• Guides your strength training with heart rate based recovery periods between sets
• Creates a training program based on your personal goals and sets new weekly training targets
• The Polar Fitness test measures your aerobic fitness at rest and tells you your progress
• Comes with Polar FlowLink® for effortless data transfer to your online training diary at polarpersonaltrainer.com via both Mac and PC

Model FT40 for active exercisers who want clear guidance and to monitor their fitness level.

• The EnergyPointer tells you if the main effect of your training is fitness improvement or fat burning
• The Polar Fitness test measures your aerobic fitness at rest and tells you your progress
• Displays calories burned
• Comes with comfortable fabric transmitter and coded heart rate transmission to avoid cross-talk

Model RS300X for recreational athletes who require all essential heart rate and timing features.

• Helps you train at the right intensity with personal sport zones
• The Polar Fitness test measures your aerobic fitness at rest and tells you your progress
• Displays calories burned

The GPS Series

Model RS800CX for serious cyclists, a limited edition training computer with a laser engraved ID number. Comes wrapped up in a Polar Limited Edition set, with both speed and cadence sensors included.

• Helps avoid over or under training by aiding you to train at the right intensity
• Measures heart rate combined with current, average and maximum speed
• Improves your cycling technique with cadence measurement
• Comes with Polar ProTrainer 5 software for analyzing, planning, and keeping a training diary

The above are just some of the popular models of Polar heart rate monitors which can be found in Amazon.com. There are many other models and accessories available.

Products information sourced from http://www.polarusa.com

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

How to use heart rate monitor watches?

Heart rate monitor watches can be used to measure heart rate at rest, monitoring heart rate during training and helped to stay in target zone. It can also be used to determine maximum heart rate (HRmax) by the reading when you are going all out in your training. An easy way to determine your HRmax is by subtracting your age from the number 220. Of course this is just an estimate because different people with different physical fitness level and health condition will have different HRmax. Regular training will strengthen your heart and lower your maximum heart rate gradually.

When working out, it is advisable to stay within your target zone with the help of a heart rate monitor watch. Your heart rate target zone should be in the range between 60% and 80% of your maximum heart rate. Working within your target zone is most effective and produce better result for your training.

Which type of heart rate monitor watches should you buy?

When you are buying a heart rate monitor watch for the first time, the wide selections of different brand names, designs and models can be overwhelming. But if you stop and think about the purpose of buying it, the decision can be quite simple.

For people just want to exercise to keep fit and healthy or just want to burn up some fat to stay slim, a basic model which can show heart rate (of course) and calories burned should be suffice. For elderly people, you might want to chose a model with large display for easy reading.

For athletes or sport persons who want to do serious training, you might want to chose one that can provide more data for analysis. Some advance models can help you to create training program based on your physical fitness level and training goal.

For bikers, long distant and cross country runners, you might want to have one with built in GPS which can measures your speed and tracks your distant during your work out. Some models can even record your route so that you can view later with Google Earth.

The cost of heart rate monitor watches vary from below 50 up-to hundreds of dollars. You can compare models and prices online and buy locally or you can buy directly online. It is more convenient to buy online and prices are more competitive. Amazon.com stores a wide range and different brand names of heart rate monitor watches.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

Your heart is the most important organ in your body. It pumps blood which carries oxygen and nutrients to every part of your body. By monitoring your heart rate you can reduce the danger from over training and still get result by staying in the target zone. Of course you can use your physical sense or how fast you are breathing to gauge how you are doing. But with a heart rate monitor watch, you can have a very accurate measurement of your heart rate and therefore can plan your training accordingly.

The Benefits Of Using A Heart Rate Monitor Watch

• Show your body’s reaction to training or exercise
• Help you train in a consistent pace and prevent you from over trained
• Help you to plan an effective training session to produce a desirable result
• Help you to progress gradually in training
• Provide accurate data for you to make adjustment to your training program

Heart rate monitor watch can drastically improve the quality of your training. It can give you accurate heart rate reading during your workout. With this detailed information you can tell if you are over training or slacking off.

Unless you have a professional coach, you will not know how much, how hard and how fast to train. With the help a heart rate monitor watch, you will know how to train and when to stop. Depending on individual physical fitness level, everyone reacts differently to physical strain and exercise. All these reactions can be recorded on a heart rate monitor watch and different work out plan can be devised for each individual.

Work Out Session With A Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Put on your heart rate monitor watch with a set target zone and start to warm up slowly. A proper warm-up will help your heart to increase blood flow to your muscle gradually. It will help your body to become more flexible and help prevent injury. Increase the intensity of your work out gradually until your heart rate reaches your target zone.

When your heart rate target zone is reached, maintain your work out intensity for the amount of time that you have planned. Make sure you stay within your target zone and be sensitive to your body reactions. If you are feeling hard to breath, you will need to slow down and set a lower target zone in your next training session.

Cooling down gradually is very important for every training session. Reducing your work out intensity and get your heart rate below your target zone and then to normal slowly. After that , you will need to stretch your muscles slowly and steadily  to prevent stiffness and injuries.

Make sure you have recovered from your previous training before you start another training session. Make use of the data recorded in your heart rate monitor watch to plan your next training session.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate monitors are devices used to monitor heart rate during exercise or training. Most heart rate monitors are designed like a watch with chest straps worn on the chest used to transmit data to the wrist unit. For people concerned about their health, heart rate monitors can be used to check their heart rate whenever necessary.

For professional sport persons, training with the help of heart rate monitors is very important. Heart rate monitors can help to monitor accurate heart rate and progress in training. There are many models in the market and the designs and features vary greatly. It is important to choose the right model for the type of sport you are training in. There are models that help you plan your training session based on your physical fitness level by monitoring your heart rate.

Polar FT4F

Hey folks, I just wanted to add a bit of information based on some comments I’ve read on other Polar devices: The FT4, based on my tests, IS water-resistant and should work great to help you track your stats as you swim laps. Read more…

Polar FT7

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Too Basic and Not Too High Tech,January 30, 2010

Before settling on the Polar FT7 Heart Rate Monitor, I did a lot of research on the various types of HRM out there. I was looking for a HRM that wouldn’t just give me my heart rate, but I also wanted a bit more features, but I didn’t need a lot of features that the higher numbered FT models offer.  Read more…

Polar RS300X

Polar RS300X is for recreational athletes who require all essential heart rate and timing features.

For some reason, Polar requires that these units be sent back to replace the battery, which costs $25 + shipping. On top of the annual cost of maintenance, this ship to replace policy leaves you without a heart monitor for about 2 weeks once a year. Read more…

Polar FT60

Polar FT60 is for committed exercisers – the STAR Training Program tells you how much and how intensively to train.

• Creates a training program based on your personal goals and sets new weekly training targets
• Gives feedback on the effect of your training
• The Polar Fitness test measures your aerobic fitness at rest and tells you your progress

Since there are now only two brief comments, these details underlying my conclusion may assist potential FT60 buyers …

— What Prompted the Purchase —
A winter surprise: my Garmin Forerunner 305 yields only heart rate data when exercising indoors. Further, user comments reveal that its associated Foot Pod does nadda unless your feet are moving forward on a treadmill or the like. Read more…

You can find more heart rate monitors and other brands on Amazon.com

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

For most strapless heart rate monitor, you just have to place two fingers on the sensor poles of the watch whenever you want to know your heart rate. The heart rate reading will be displayed after you touch the sensor for a few seconds. However, with these units you cannot have a continuous reading of your heart rate. Moreover the measurement is not as accurate as the conventional heart rate monitors.

Although strapless heart rate monitor does not has the uncomfortable feeling of wearing a strap on the chest, it is found to be unsuitable for most people who needs more accurate reading and continuously monitor their heart rate. It might be suitable for people who just want to check their heart rate occasionally. To get the heart rate reading on a strapless heart rate monitor while you are exercising, you will need to slow down or even stop altogether to have the reading. This usually caused the reading to be inaccurate.

So for people who really want to train and improve their fitness level, it is better to have a traditional heart rate monitor rather than a strapless heart rate monitor. A traditional heart rate monitor can provide accurate real time information for you to know how well you are doing in your work out. It will also help you to keep a consistent pace in training. Most of the traditional heart rate monitors have more advance features than strapless heart rate monitor.

In order to benefit from using a heart rate monitor, it is important to choose an appropriate unit with the right features for the type of sport or exercise that you are enjoying. Researching online may help you find the right one.

Strapless Heart Rate Monitor

If you still prefer a strapless heart rate monitor, you may want to take a look at the Impact Sports ePulse strapless heart rate monitor (picture left) at  Amazon.com.

• ePulse is the world’s first armband-only continuous heart rate monitor and calorimeter.
• ePulse is worn around  the forearm and can provide continuous heart rate monitoring.
• Shows current heart rate, maximum and minimum heart rates, and average heart rate
• Calculates calories burned based on personal profile and heart rate
• Includes fat burning and cardio target zones; powered by AAA batteries

The ePulse works by integrating light sensor and microchip technology–the same type used in hospital heart rate monitors–to accurately read the pulse from the forearm.

In addition, the ePulse handles a number of basic calculations, including elapsed exercise time, average heart rate, and minimum and maximum heart rates. People with specific training goals can further use the ePulse to calculate optimal heart rate exercise zones for both burning fat and boosting cardio conditioning. The ePulse will then provide a target high and low range for your heart rate, with a green LED light telling you when you’re in the target zone.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

With the help of a heart rate monitor:

• You can plan your training accordingly.
• You can know hard you need to train.
• You can know how long you need to train.
• You can know how much effort to put in to achieve you training goal.
• You can know when to start and when to stop.
• You can analyze your performance and progress with the data recorded.
• You can train more effectively with the analysis.

Training more effectively with the help of a heart rate monitor will eventually produce better result for whichever sport you are training on. But, first of all, you must get a heart rate monitor that is suitable for the kind of sport you are pursuing. There are various brand and models with different features for different sports. Read this post to learn more.

One important thing you need to know when using a heart rate monitor is your maximum heart rate. Maximum heart rate (HRmax) is the highest number of beats per minute you can achieve (withstand) when you are going all out. One easy way to get your HR(max) is subtracting your age from the number 220. This is just a rough estimate, it varies depending on individual’s fitness level and health condition.

After getting your maximum heart rate, you will need to train within your heart rate target zone. Your heart rate target zone is in the range of 60 to 80 per cent of your maximum heart rate. With the help of a heart rate monitor, you will be able to train more effectively by staying within your target zone with the continuous monitoring of your heart rate. With regular training and improvement on fitness level, eventually your maximum heart rate and heart rate target zone will increase.

To get result, regular training and increasing the intensity of training gradually is important. Don’t ever over-trained and hurt yourself. Overly aggressive training may cause unfounded injuries that may have long term side effects in the future.

With a heart rate monitor, you should be able to take total control of your training. By following strictly to a plan based on data recorded during your work outs, you will reap the benefits one day.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

Beginners’ Jogging Tips

Before you go out and jog, get yourself a pair of comfortable shirt and pants and a pair of good jogging shoe. You should be able to get these at your local sport apparels store. Ask the store assistant to assist you to get something suitable.

Another piece of device which you shouldn’t go without is a heart rate monitor (click on the link to learn more if you don’t know what is a heart rate monitor). If you can’t get one at your local store, you can get one at Amazon.com.

Choosing your jogging venue is very important. High traffic area is not suitable because of air pollution. Find a place with a lot of greens which will supply plenty of fresh air and oxygen. Before you start, warm yourself up for at least 10 minutes. Warming up slowly will help your body muscle to loosen and get ready for the work out. Warming up properly also reduce the risk of injuries.

Set your pace with the heart rate monitor. Start with the lowest intensity level and gradually move onto the next level when you are ready. Never over stressed yourself especially for your first jogging session. Just keep it easy and jog on as long as you feel comfortable. Cool yourself down slowly when you want to quit.

Keep at this pace for a few days or more. Step up the intensity when your fitness level improved. Just keep going this way and jog regularly and you will see yourself getting into a good shape. Remember, faster is not always better. What you want is consistency and improvement on endurance gradually.

Make good use of your heart rate monitor and enjoy good health with these jogging tips.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

Heart rate training is exercise or work out based on an individual’s maximum heart rate and train in the range of your heart rate target zone with the help of a heart rate monitor continuously monitoring your heart rate. It is excellent for athletes who want to train to improve endurance. It is also good for people who want to lose a few pounds and for people who want to keep a healthy life.

Based on your heart rate, you can set the pace and intensity levels of your work out without being over-trained. Before beginning heart rate training, you need to know your maximum heart rate. Maximum heart rate (HRmax) is the highest number of beats per minute you can achieve (withstand) when you are going all out. One easy way to get your HR(max) is subtracting your age from the number 220. This is just a rough estimate, it varies depending on individual’s fitness level and health condition.

Your first session of heart rate training will be based on your maximum heart rate and your heart rate target zone. Your heart rate target zone is ranged from 60 to 80% of your maximum heart rate. Plan your first session with these figure and get more accurate data with your heart rate monitor. With the actual data recorded with your heart rate monitor, you can now design a better training plan.

With the help of the heart rate monitor, your heart rate training can now move slowly from one level to another. As your maximum heart rate and target zone improved, you can step-up your training to a higher level of intensity. Repeat these steps over and over and you will see your performance improve with every training session.

The important thing about heart rate training is never over trained or over stressed yourself to prevent injuries. As long as you train regularly and increase the intensity gradually, improvement should follow naturally.

To learn more technical details about heart rate training, read this article by six-time Ironman Hawaii winner Mark Allen.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor

The success of the “Ironman Triathlon®” has led Timex to diversify into a full-line of sport watches for men and women. From then on, investment in developments and innovations have made Timex heart rate monitor one of the leading products in the market.

Timex Ironman Men’s Road Trainer Heart Rate Monitor Watch

Timex Ironman Men's Road Trainer

• Mid-sized fitness training watch with heart rate monitor and comprehensive training tools
  • Digital transmission prevents cross-talk with other monitors and electronic equipment
  • Preset a target heart rate zone with six ranges; analyze time in/out of zone, recovery time, peak heart rate, and average heart rate
  • 100-hour chronograph with lap and split; 50-lap memory; 100-hour, 2-mode countdown timer; alarm with 5-minute backup
  • INDIGLO night-light with NIGHT-MODE; owner-replaceable battery; Data Recorder 2 and Data Recorder compatible; water resistant to 100 meters

Most heart rate monitors use what is called an analog signal. While these are usually quite accurate, Timex has developed a more accurate technology. This technology, the FM technology, is more accurate than the analog signals and will give you an accurate reading of your heart rate that may only be off by two or three beats a minute. This new technology is digital, and since it is digital you do not have to worry about crosstalk or getting interference from those around you who are also using heart rate monitors. You can be sure that the readings you get with this monitor are always accurate and you can rely on this information.

Some of these heart rate monitors made by Timex also have other great features as well. Some of them have special sensors that will keep track of the distance, as well as your speed. These Timex monitors actually use a special GPS system to calculate the time and the distance you have done.

All  these features set Timex apart from other makers of heart rate monitor. They are a step above the rest of the competitions. If you looking for accuracy, advance features and affordable prices, Timex is what you are looking for.

Digital Heart Rate Monitor