We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!
Heart Rate: How High Is Too High

Matiara
Posts: 377 Member
When I do cardio, if my heart rate is 150 and under, it doesn't feel like I'm working. It's not until I hit the mid 160s to the 170s that I feel the effort and even then it's an easily sustainable effort. The low 180s are not terribly taxing, but I do back off because that's way high in relation to what my "target heart rate" should be, which leads to my question.
If I'm exercising and I feel the effort, but it doesn't feel like I'm going to drop dead or something, does it matter what my heart rate is? Should I make an effort to stay within a certain zone or just back off if my body tells me to?
And yes, I do take my pulse accurately.
If I'm exercising and I feel the effort, but it doesn't feel like I'm going to drop dead or something, does it matter what my heart rate is? Should I make an effort to stay within a certain zone or just back off if my body tells me to?
And yes, I do take my pulse accurately.
0
Replies
-
I have the same question. I read I shouldn't let mine get past 159. When it does, I take a few secs to let it go down. I don't know if what I am doing is right either.0
-
I do my cardio near the upper range of my max for 20 to 30 minutes, which for me is 180bpm (edit to add, thats the max I go, I do intervals, so on the up swing it's near 180 and on the low swing it's lower). The calculation is 210-age=max heart rate, according to the USA government. Of course, that's just a guideline.
Now, many theories abound about what percentage of the max heart rate is best for fat burn, for cardio improvement, and so on. Personally, I go with "The more calories you can burn in a short time the better" theory. Lots of theories out supporting just about any way you want though
But that's just what I do. You are on your own on deciding what you should do.0
This discussion has been closed.
Categories
- All Categories
- 1.4M Health, Wellness and Goals
- 394.5K Introduce Yourself
- 44K Getting Started
- 260.5K Health and Weight Loss
- 176.1K Food and Nutrition
- 47.5K Recipes
- 232.7K Fitness and Exercise
- 444 Sleep, Mindfulness and Overall Wellness
- 6.5K Goal: Maintaining Weight
- 8.6K Goal: Gaining Weight and Body Building
- 153.1K Motivation and Support
- 8.1K Challenges
- 1.3K Debate Club
- 96.4K Chit-Chat
- 2.5K Fun and Games
- 4K MyFitnessPal Information
- 16 News and Announcements
- 1.3K Feature Suggestions and Ideas
- 2.8K MyFitnessPal Tech Support Questions