Heart Rate Monitor

[cnnc97]

Is a heart rate monitor really necessary to lose a few pounds, add some muscle, and get in better shape? I know it's not necessary I guess, but is it worth it?

I have started lifting weights 3 times a week and don't see a benefit there.

I don't see much of a benefit on my cardio days since the machines at my gym have the heart rate monitors built in.

I can see it being helpful in the summer when I ride a bike, but I usually have my 7 year old with me and am not exactly training.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[RaisingTheBar]

Not really. I've never used one.

 

[RF1963]

Not essential but can be useful.

It gives you a means to target your cardio exercise. Your monitor gives you accurate information as to how hard you're working. As you get fitter you have to work harder/longer to get the same result. The monitor allows you to get there. For example. You run a set distance every day and set a time at the beginning. As you get fitter you either need to run the same distance quicker or run further in the same time. Your heart rate monitor will enable you to work to a set output (e.g. 150 bpm for 30 minutes). As you get fitter you'll increase your workload (increase resistance on the bike, increase the gradient on the treadmill) to maintain 150 bpm.

I found a heart rate monitor a very useful aid in my exercise regime.

 

[dklaiman]

Used right it can be very helpful, especially if you get one that allows you to set it to your specific heart rate zones rather than using one in which the zones are pre-set. That way once you decide if you want a long Zone 2 workout, if you want to go anaerobic, etc., you'll know if you're actually achieving the goal of the workout. It also keeps you (OK, me, when I wear one) from cheating and convincing myself that I'm working harder than I actually am.

 

[TimmyBoston]

I use the one with my Garmin on every bike ride and run. I love it. I think it's a very worthwhile training tool.

Though for the activities you describe, I wouldn't bother. However, if you consider training for a Century or a marathon, I'd pick one up.

 

[mikromicke]

If you are going to restrict yourself to the exercises you mentioned I wouldn't think it's worth the money. It's great for guiding aerobic training as running, biking etc where you can achieve better results by modifying your training regime after your hear rate. If you lifting weights, no need and if you prefer to do the cardio on machines that have it built in, I just wouldn't bother with it.

 

[Woodash]

If you are going to restrict yourself to the exercises you mentioned I wouldn't think it's worth the money. It's great for guiding aerobic training as running, biking etc where you can achieve better results by modifying your training regime after your hear rate. If you lifting weights, no need and if you prefer to do the cardio on machines that have it built in, I just wouldn't bother with it.

+1. Unless you are doing a fairly high level of cardio training, it can be a fun thing, but not really necessary. Even at a high level of conditioning for, say, bicycle racing and distance riding, the heart rate monitor becomes sort of moot (at least for me...) because you typically know through perceived effort and performance where you are with respect to e.g., anaerobic threshold, interval work, etc. Like I said, they're useful, but not in every case.

 

[cnnc97]

Thanks for all the responses. Unless I switch to running, biking, etc outside of the gym it sounds like it wouldn't be much of a benefit to me, which is exactly what I was thinking initially.

 

[csf1964]

I feel a heart rate monitor is very useful to weight lose Burning fat your heart rate is fairly low and the HRM will help you stay with in a lower target zone, if your heart rate is too high you will not burn fat. No need for a fancy monitor but a simple one would be helpful to reach your goals

 

[TimmyBoston]

I feel a heart rate monitor is very useful to weight lose Burning fat your heart rate is fairly low and the HRM will help you stay with in a lower target zone, if your heart rate is too high you will not burn fat. No need for a fancy monitor but a simple one would be helpful to reach your goals

To really burn fat you need intervals, alternating low and high heart rates.

 

[urkel]

i run with a hr monitor a lot. lets me know if i'm going too hard on easy days and on hard days lets me know if i'm going hard enough. i'm a cyclists and runner and mostly on the bike i use it for climbing and knowing what i need to do when my legs so no way and my heart says i have lots left over to use. i can't imagine using one in a gym unless on a stationary bike to destroy the legs. riding alone it's almost a must to use. in a group forget it. they say when to go hard and when to slow down. just another tool to enjoy watching the ticker tick off the charts...........

 

[SRock]

I use the one with my Garmin on every bike ride and run. I love it. I think it's a very worthwhile training tool.

Though for the activities you describe, I wouldn't bother. However, if you consider training for a Century or a marathon, I'd pick one up.

This!

 

[tg16]

I use the one with my Garmin on every bike ride and run. I love it. I think it's a very worthwhile training tool.

Though for the activities you describe, I wouldn't bother. However, if you consider training for a Century or a marathon, I'd pick one up.

I'll second this but add that once I began to lose more weight I used it for all of my runs and I upload my activities to Garmin Connect where I'm able to look at heart rate and calories burned. It has been invaluable with my training, which so far has been for 5k races.