Heart rate question

Confuzzled4ever

I checked my heart rate during Zumba.. it was 15 beats in 10 seconds.. that means it was 90bpm right?? I was sweating. is that a good heart rate? My resting heart rate is 50 or lower.

heybales

Not really.

Exercise level HR, called HRFlex, in studies is right around 90, so that means you were just starting to move in to an actual aerobic workout.

If your resting HR is that low, that bottom level of aerobic zone isn't going to do much for you either.

Sweating doesn't really have anything to with exercise except your genetic tendency towards it, and body wanting to cool off.

Now, you may have been inaccurate on count, because as soon as you stop it starts to drop. And if resting HR is that low, great indication you recovery fast too, or would get a fast drop.

Confuzzled4ever

So.. even when you start at a lower heart rate then what's considered normal, 90 is still low?

I should be aiming for more like 120 right?

heybales

If this is supposed to be exercise that helps make some improvement with the body, then 90 is the bottom level of hoping to get anything out if it.

It's almost just moving more to burn more calories, without actually requiring the body to improve. And it ain't that many more calories at that.
Obviously the burn at 90 is better than the burn sitting at 55-60, but not much more.

Unless there is medical or medicine reason you have low resting HR, and I mean low compared to average.

120 would likely be near the bottom of a HR zone that means you are putting no additional stress on your body, called Active Recovery HR zone. What would be used if you had done something hard and intense the day before and needed basically active rest.
That zone isn't even getting in to the Aerobic zone where you would actually start improving your aerobic/cardiovascular system.

http://www.calculatenow.biz/sport/heart.php?

Confuzzled4ever

No.. no medical reason and no medication. They always double check me at the doctors because sometimes it's in the mid 40s. I'm just in good shape..

I looked at that site.. so if I was around 120 before I counted and I dropped fast (which is entirely possible with me, i know when I'm on the stationary bike and I stop pedaling it the hr drops immediately) I would just barely be in fat burning zone.

ok.. I can live with that for this week. I'll have to keep track of it somehow this week and then adjust as I go. Trying to improve my workouts.

Would the target HR be the same while weight lifting?

heybales

No.. no medical reason and no medication. They always double check me at the doctors because sometimes it's in the mid 40s. I'm just in good shape..

I looked at that site.. so if I was around 120 before I counted and I dropped fast (which is entirely possible with me, i know when I'm on the stationary bike and I stop pedaling it the hr drops immediately) I would just barely be in fat burning zone.

ok.. I can live with that for this week. I'll have to keep track of it somehow this week and then adjust as I go. Trying to improve my workouts.

Would the target HR be the same while weight lifting?

Lifting should be an anaerobic effort if you want the real benefit from lifting.

As such the HR should shoot on up in to the anaerobic zone briefly.

Reasons it can't get up there - working small muscles like biceps isolated, or muscles are tired and can't push that hard.
That is in fact a great way to tell if for instance the cardio you did the day before has left you tired for your lifting session. If your muscles don't have enough energy to lift heavy enough to get the HR up there, then it was too much cardio and you won't get the full benefit from lifting.

The body's response to lifting overload with fresh muscles is get stronger and try to build more, if rest and diet allow it.
The response to lifting with tired muscles to failure is to store more glucose for better endurance next time. Some strength of course, but not focus.

Yes, you are in good cardio shape then if HR drops that fast. That and resting HR are 2 best indicators outside actual VO2max test.

So you can improve your workouts by having a hard brief day followed by easy long day. Trains the fat-burning system and the lactate acid removal system.
Much like intervals is hard brief effort followed by easy effort to recovery.