Target Heart Rate Zone

swilk627

Is there a good calculator or formula for figuring out your target heart rate zone? I just got a Polar FT4 and I feel what it's automatically set to is pretty low - though I could be mistaken. It has my target between 125 and 165, with 165 being 85% of max.

I just did an easy workout on the elliptical (still recovering from being sick) and for most of the time my heart rate was between 160-175. However, I didn't feel like I was exercising at 85% of my maximum.

Any ideas?

Bysshe

I dunno... I have the polar ft4 as well. I had to adjust mine down a few numbers. I just couldn't reach their recommendations no matter how hard I pushed myself.

edit: I have knee problems that keep me forom doing some of the things that I want to do, but I still go sometimes more than 5 miles a day walking and on the bike. I've kept a steady pace of over 11 mph on the bike before and STILL wasn't close to where the monitor said... so I say not everyone is cookie cutter. and that formula doesn't work for everyone.

angraham2

If you are on some medications such as beta blockers, your heart rate won't change much. Mine goes from 92 resting (I have a very small heart) to 97 at it's highest. Since I started this med, my heart rate hasn't gotten over 97. So when it gets to 97 I know I'm working hard.

AZKristi

Take your resting HR before getting out of bed 5 days in a row. Calculate your average resting heart rate (aRHR).

220 - Age = Max HR

Max HR - aRHR = Y

60% Max = (Y * 0.6) + aRHR

70% Max = (Y * 0.7) + aRHR

80% Max = (Y * 0.8) + aRHR

90% Max = (Y * 0.9) + aRHR

FYI this is a general formula that works for ME. I am not licensed to offer medical advice.

littlebuddy84

I have the polar FT4 too and i found that it was set very low too so I just set it a little higher.

mrandolph69

I think the formula AZKristi posted is known as the Karvonen Heart Rate Formula which tries to take into account your resting heart rate. You might want to try the Karvonen calculator over on SparkPeople.com which is at the following URL:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calculator_target.asp

I don't know if it is the best or not, but it is the one I used when trying to determine what level I should be working at.

MzGreedii

I have the Polar F4 and it says mine is from 121 -147 and I usually go way over that (about 174 on average).