Shopping for Fitness: A Guide to Heart Rate Monitors

Last month I covered the basics of training within heart rate zones, detailing which zones are good for which aerobic/anaerobic adaptations. I also discussed the various formulas for calculating your heart rate zone, the age-based formula and the Karvonen formula. Luckily for us there’s a much easier way to figure out which zone you’re in, while you’re exercising (no need to stop and do the math). 

The heart rate monitor, my absolute favorite piece of fitness equipment. Nothing has motivated me to work harder, work smarter, and work longer than my heart rate monitor (henceforth referred to as HRM). 

Cardio: Keeping Humans in Shape Since the Dawn of Mankind

No, this won't be a post about evolution and how we're anthropomorphically built to run/walk/jog long/medium/short distances over long/short periods of time while wearing shoes/no shoes. OK, one line dedicated to evolution: people believe all of the above.  For now, the basics! It's a challenge to stick to the bare bones issues because topics like cardiovascular exercise lead to heart rate zones which leads to intensity levels which leads to fat storage burns versus glycogen storage calorie burns...and to that I say, one thing at a time! Exercise doesn't need to be so complicated.