Heart Rate differences

JanAlyssa825

My friend and I take a workout class together every week. We're both female, but she is 13 years older, a good 6 inches shorter, and weighs probably 30 pounds less. I would say that we're both in good shape. We both have the same heart rate monitor and do the same things in class for the same amount of time. However, after an hour of working out, even if I'm using slightly heavier weights, she burns like 20% more calories. Her heart rate is much higher in general. Is that just a normal thing? I would think that because I weigh more, I would naturally burn more calories.

What do you guys think?

_Zardoz_

Are your HRM set up correctly?

JanAlyssa825

Mine definitely is (with height, weight, and gender). I am fairly sure hers is, too, since today we did a quick run on the treadmill, which didn't use her HRM to track heart rate, and her heart rate was still higher than mine on average, even though we had almost the same stats for a mile-long run, though I had a higher incline.

pinkraynedropjacki

Not everyone's heart is going to beat at the same rate. Yours may be in better condition than hers....who knows. I know I'm fitter than I like to think & have trouble getting a decent heart rate, only because cardio is what I do & my heart knows that.... someone unfit would easily get a higher heart rate than me because they are not as fit.

MySlimGoals

OMG this reminds me of my friend who came to the gym with me a couple of weeks ago. We got on the exercise cycles beside each other and I set hers up for her so she was doing the same program I was doing. We had to get our heart rates up to 130bpm to be in the right zone. Mine slowly went up as usual and I had as usual lots of trouble getting it there (it's where my personal trainer told me I have to get mine to for the program). My friends heart rate shot up to 160-170bpm and she started skiting to me about how that meant she was so fit and healthy and the doctor had been really impressed about how fast she could put her heart rate up when she went in for a check up. I was like 'HUH - isn't that like BAD?!' lol I think she may be wrong about that.

kimbtaylor1

Everyone's heart rate is different. A set of twins could be doing the same thing with different heart rates. As far as the friend who thinks she is healthier than you because her heart rate went up quickly she is wrong. Yes everyone is different but honestly the lower the heart rate the better shape your heart is in.

I have a heart defect and I have to monitor my rate closely so it doesn't get too high. I am in shape but my heart rate while cardio ranges from 150-200 depending on the intensity. I know that sounds high to most people but for me its normal. If your friend constantly has a high rate she may want to be checked out just to be safe.

hrtchoco

i think it means you are more fit than her? i remember back when i was exercising regularly, my heart rate stopped at around 160. after being lazy for a while and finally got my lazy *kitten* back to the gym, my heart rate jumped to 180 in a few secs.