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Resting Heart Rate

incircles_lp2
incircles_lp2 Posts: 132 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
According to my HR monitor, my resting heart rate on average is between 69-80. I think 80's a bit high and I am wondering if this is a concern since I am very active and I walk all day at work. Shouldn't I be burning more calories with a higher resting heart rate? Any ideas/suggestions?

Replies

  • 34at35
    34at35 Posts: 318
    According to the American Heart Association:

    "This is a person's heart rate at rest. The best time to find out your resting heart rate is in the morning, after a good night's sleep, and before you get out of bed.

    The heart beats about 60 to 80 times a minute when we're at rest. Resting heart rate usually rises with age, and it's generally lower in physically fit people. Resting heart rate is used to determine one's training target heart rate. Athletes sometimes measure their resting heart rate as one way to find out if they're overtrained. The heart rate adapts to changes in the body's need for oxygen, such as during exercise or sleep."

    If yours is normally 69- 80, you may want to talk to your Doctor about it. It is not super high, but my doctor was thrilled that mine has come down from about 80 to normally about 60. Amazing what losing weight, not smoking, and exercising will do!
  • running_girl_84
    running_girl_84 Posts: 60
    Before I started running my resting HR was around 75. I just had it measured a few days ago and it was 49. I'm not sure how it relates to calories burned and all that. I know when I run I have to really give it in order to make my heart rate high so I guess I'm burning less.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Resting HR has nothing to do with calories expended. The wide range of resting HR you are reporting would suggest that you are not taking it under consistent conditions. Neither number is overly significant one way or the other, but an 11-beat range is somewhat wide.
  • incircles_lp2
    incircles_lp2 Posts: 132 Member
    I have only been referring to my HR monitor. I wore it all day yesterday and checked it from time to time to see what my resting HR was. I was very still and quiet the times I checked it. I can see how 11 points up or down can be disconcerting! Guess I need to try taking it in the morning.

    Thanks for all the advice though!
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