Poor tolerance and high heart rate :(

supertigress007
supertigress007 Posts: 7 Member
in Getting Started
Hello all!
I have dabbled in getting healthy many times before for weight loss but this time my primary concern has been just being out of shape (really tired, not having energy, getting short of breath fRom walking up stairs, etc). What really kicked me into gear was I picked up skiing this year (was a snowboarder before but took a year off due to school). It is embarrassing how often I have to stop and catch my breath and how quickly I call it a day. Alas, I hit 198 lbs this week and have dusted off my old fitness gear.

Now I decided to do some ps3 move games to help recondition my cardio but the 15 mins resulted in me having to rest multiple times. The next day I dusted off my heart rate monitor and within minutes my heart rate was up to 178. I'm 30 so theoretically my max hr is 190. I then went skiing and wore the monitor and saw afterwards on my app that my max was 187 and I seemed consistently up there (dropping to the 130s when I assume I had stopped to catch my breath). I don't ski hard or anything either.

Anyways, I am going to the doctor next week just in case. I feel partially ashamed I have become so deconditioned.... but also hoping that's what it is. I wonder if it's really possible for someone my age to be THAT out of shape. Even after skiing, it took about 35 mins for my heart rate to drop below 100. Resting rate is high 80s low 90s usually.

I'm not looking for medical clearance... just maybe some anecdotal stories about what it was like for others. My previous "health kicks" never had these problems, but I was younger and lighter and not quite as sedentary. Any thoughts?

Replies

  • shadow2soul
    shadow2soul Posts: 7,692 Member
    When I first started, I was pretty out of shape. I didn't have a heart rate monitor at the time, but I do remember starting with just walks and only being able to go about a quarter of a mile before needing a break. When I started doing workout games with the wii, I would do 10 mins or so at a time and then take a break. That was back in 2012 when I was at my heaviest (BMI 44) and I was only 22.
    As things got easier, I increased the distance of my walks and the lengths of my workouts.
    Before I got sick back in September (doctors orders for no work outs :disappointed: ), I was running up to 4 miles 2-3 times a week. I can't run that much now, but that's from not running in awhile.
  • WickedPineapple
    WickedPineapple Posts: 698 Member
    I think some of us just have higher heart rates. For reference, I'm 31 and have no heart/BP or respiratory problems. (My job has a pretty rigorous medical monitoring program, so I get a full workup every year. I've even had a couple EKGs and chest x-rays.) My resting HR used to be in the mid 80s and now it's around 72. No one has ever brought it up at the doctor's, when I'm sure it was higher (I have anxiety).

    I used to use the elliptical at the gym and I'd hit 200 and usually maintain in the 180s, which kinda freaked me out because of the whole max HR thing. When I first started running (after 6 months of regular cardio) and got an HRM, I discovered that the elliptical HR was was accurate. While jogging slowly, my heartrate was consistently in the 170s and 180s. I wasn't gasping for breath either. Since I had no medical problems and didn't have any other symptoms (feeling lightheaded, nauseous, etc.) I just continued on and tried not to let my HR stay above 190. The higher HR really threw off my estimated calorie burns, so I stopped using the HRM after almost a year (I was using it for burns, so since they were inflated, there was no point).

    Taking awhile for your HR to get back to resting is indicative of being out of shape. But that will improve the more exercise you get over time. It doesn't hurt to check this all out with your doctor though.
  • myallforjcbill
    myallforjcbill Posts: 5,724 Member
    It takes some time and persistence, but overtime the HR does seem to come down. Best investment I ever made when starting to be more active (morbidly obese at the time) was a HR monitor. I started slow. I noted what HR levels were for a while versus my perceived levels of exertion. Then I was able to make sure I walked at a pace that got the cardio going without overstressing. Eventually I got to the point I could train to run a 5K and eventually a marathon when I eventually trained by HR. There you focus on your ability to recover your HR. Even now that I no longer can run do to a bad right knee, and a back issue is limiting my walking I find consistent walking at an intentional pace pays off. My resting heart rate is getting close to 60 and may drop down under again. I often only walk 1 mile or so at a time.

Categories