Fast Heart Rate, or Normal??

whatascene

So I used to use MFP's exercise calorie counter thing, then I got an HRM watch since I'm getting closer to my BMI to ensure I lose properly. Well, everyone talks about how MFP over estimates calories during exercise and I found that it underestimates by about 70-100 calories (I just pretend those don't exist so it's a bonus benefit).

Well, then I asked around and a lot of people who "are in shape" have an average heart rate between 160-178ish while working out. I've been working out regularly for over a year now and mine still hangs in the mid to late 180's, sometimes 190's. When I was playing soccer, it went up to 205 for about 5-8 minutes, and was 200 for about the other 10 minutes.

So I have two questions:

1. Is my heartrate normal?

2. Because my heartrate is higher, I burn more calories. I feel like if it's so fast I should have lost more by now, could my body just sort of adjusted to my higher heartrate so I need to work harder to make it go up higher to burn?

moustache_flavored_lube

I would expect high heart rates when playing soccer, as it is a sprint type of activity.

There is nothing wrong with working out at high heart rates, there are a lot of reasons to work in zone 4 /5. However, it sounds like you may be missing out on aerobic fitness.

Lots of hours of work in lower heart rates (probably 140-160 for you) will make your aerobic system. When you have good aerobic fitness you can go faster, and farther without your heart rate getting out of the aerobic zones.

I would suggest spending around 80% of your time working aerobically with 1-2 days per week of high intensity intervals at higher heart rates.

whatascene

Those workouts I do regularly during the week are either 15 min bicycle and 30 min elliptical, or just 45 min straight elliptical. Are those the type of the workouts you're talking about?

ModoVincere

Subtract your resting heart rate from your max heart rate. Take difference and multiply it by 50%; 60%;75%;85%;93%;100%; and 103%. Add your resting hr to those figures. That will give you your training zones.
An example...rhr =50
Mhr=180
180-150=130

Z1=50% * 130 =65 +50(rhr) =115 (low end of z1)
Z1=60% * 130= 78 +50 =128 (top of z1,bottom of z2)
Z2=75%*130=97 +50 = 147 (top of z2, bottom of z3)
Z3=85%*130=110+50 =160 (top of z3, bottom of z4)
Etc.....
Most of your cardio should be done in zones 1,2, & 3.