Target Heart Rate -> Help Needed

JulieTX86
JulieTX86 Posts: 303 Member
edited September 22 in Fitness and Exercise
I have been researching today about target heart rate information, more specificially fat burning zones vs. cardio training zones, etc. I just found an article that really helped explain the difference to me: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/332288/workout_tips_fat_burning_zone_vs_cardio_pg2.html?cat=51

However, I have an odd question, and can't find anything about it online so I was wondering if any of you know....

I take medication that increases my heart rate (Adderall). When I am off the medication (I don't take it every day like i am supposed to) my resting heart rate may be 70's- 80. When I take the medication it is high 90's and sometimes may even go over 100. I just purchased a HRM in order to get a better idea of my heart rate/calorie counts during exercise, but I fear that the HRM will over-estimate calories expended on days that I take Adderall because I will constantly have a higher heart rate. I don't plan on wearing the HRM all day long or anything, I will wear it just when I exercise, but my heart rate increases more quickly upon exertion (exercise) the days that I take adderall. So I am assuming that the HRM will not be able to give me correct readings, and that maybe I should underestimate my actual calorie counts? I am going to try to limit my adderall "consumption" but being that I am diagnosed with adult ADD and in nursing school its going to be difficult for me to completely eliminate it.

Given that I do not have a lot of knowledge concerning target heart rate zones nor HRM's I am wondering if anybody else has any insight.

Thanks for reading. :)

Replies

  • lukasmac
    lukasmac Posts: 216 Member
    ive read 120 bpm is the 'fat burn' heart rate you want to target
  • JLeeAlton
    JLeeAlton Posts: 311
    Age Target HR Zone50–85 % Average MaximumHeart Rate100 %
    20 years 100–170 beats per minute 200 beats per minute
    25 years 98–166 beats per minute 195 beats per minute
    30 years 95–162 beats per minute 190 beats per minute
    35 years 93–157 beats per minute 185 beats per minute
    40 years 90–153 beats per minute 180 beats per minute
    45 years 88–149 beats per minute 175 beats per minute
    50 years 85–145 beats per minute 170 beats per minute
    55 years 83–140 beats per minute 165 beats per minute
    60 years 80–136 beats per minute 160 beats per minute
    65 years 78–132 beats per minute 155 beats per minute
    70 years 75–128 beats per minute 150 beats per minute



    In order to figure out which zone you're in, you first need to figure out what your own target heart rate is. You can do this by using the Karvonen Formula. You can also use any number of target heart rate calculators to get your heart rate zone, but many of them do not incorporate your resting heart rate (which makes it a bit more accurate).

    Below is an example of the Karvonen formula for a 23 year old person with a resting heart rate of 65 beats per minute (*to get your resting heart rate, take your pulse for one full minute.):

    220 - 23 (age) = 197
    197 - 65 (resting heart rate) = 132
    132 * 65% (low end of heart rate) OR 85% (high end) = 85.8 OR 112.2
    85.8 + 65 (resting heart rate) = 150 112.2 + 65 (rhr) = 177
    The target heart rate zone for this person would be 150 to 177

    For this person to work in his 'fat burning' zone, he would need to stay around 150 beats per minute or lower. To work within his 'cardio' zone, he would need to work at 150 bpm or higher.



    Found online
  • LynnBirchfield
    LynnBirchfield Posts: 581 Member
    I'm interested in what folks are going to say about this. I have a high pulse anyway, plus I take Adderall also. Hopefully, someone will have answers. Thanks for asking the question.
  • JulieTX86
    JulieTX86 Posts: 303 Member
    ive read 120 bpm is the 'fat burn' heart rate you want to target

    I guess let me try to clarify, I was a bit rambly up there....

    If medication makes my resting heart rate increase an average of 20/BPM, is it likely that my HRM readings will be off when I exercise? Falsely stating that I am burning more calories then I actually am? (Since my heart rate will already be elevated because of medication, and not due to exercise alone).

    Am I making sense?
  • kelsully
    kelsully Posts: 1,008 Member
    You are making sense..I understood the first time through what you were trying to ask...I however do not have a good answer for you....Let me see what I can find
  • binary_jester
    binary_jester Posts: 3,311 Member
    I would shoot for whatever is comfortable for you. I used to try and stay within my "fat burning" target area and it drove me crazy. I usually try to stay in the 70% to 80% area.
    Daniel Carey from the Univ of St Thomas in MN determined the fat-burning zone by measuring gas exchange (respiratory exchange ratio - the ratio of CO expired to O consumed) during maximal exercise test on a treadmill. He estimated that maximum fat use occurred at 54% of maximal oxygen consumption. He concluded that training at 60% to 80% MHR was a good compromise for maximizing fat burning and building aerobic capacity.

    As for your medication, I don't know. I take caffeine which has the same effect, but not to your extent. I really wouldn't worry about it. I am guessing the difference is minimal.
  • roadtoaddmj
    roadtoaddmj Posts: 9
    I had the opposite problem. I was taking a Beta blocker to slow down my heart rate for a high blood pressure problem. I talked to my doctor and he switched my medication to a Ace-Inhibitor.

    I would recommend that you talk to your doctor and let him know what your goals are and how you can meet them.

    I have found that there are all kinds of things that can effect your heart rate:
    - time between eating and workout. Fasting results in higher rates when working out (must have a very controlled workout to measure the difference)
    - Sauna's and Jacuzzi have a dramatic effect that lasts 1-3 days
  • JulieTX86
    JulieTX86 Posts: 303 Member
    You are making sense..I understood the first time through what you were trying to ask...I however do not have a good answer for you....Let me see what I can find

    Yeah i tried every combination in google of "adderall + exercise" "adderall + heart rate monitors" etc. lol... i can't find anything.

    Really i guess it could be a broader search such as "medication effects on heart rate monitors" since some medications cause elevated heart rates and other cause decreased heart rates. I just assumed that the science behind heart rate monitoring and calorie counts would be the actual monitoring of heart rates, LOL, sooo.. if medications are causing increases or decreases then I would imagine that the calorie information may not be accurate. Okay maybe I am just crazy for wondering about all of this.... :ohwell:
  • 10swampdonkey
    10swampdonkey Posts: 10
    I am a little confused. I am new to workout machines, and just got an elliptical 2 days ago. The first day I didn't read about different programs etc yet, and I did 32 min with my heart rate @ 160 to 170 the whole time. It felt great, and I did not feel like it was too much.
    Today I used the HRM it came with, and set the program to "target heart rate" for my age at 150. It seemed way too easy, and I was not even breathing hard. The computer on the machine only read 110 cal burned, @ 170 I burned 285.I don't really know what this means for me. I fairly regularly snowshoe with a 10 lb pack in deep snow between 4000 and 6000 ft above sea level. Could I feel like this because of the elevation difference? My home is at 1500'. I then walked around the block with my dog for 10 minutes as a test. Same pace, and heart rate felt the same.
    If the target says 150 for fat burning, will I burn more at 170? Unless I feel weak or dizzy etc, It should be safe? Maybe I am not in really bad shape, or does a heart rate of 150 just walking around the block mean the opposite?
  • shalynna89
    shalynna89 Posts: 324 Member
    I've always been under the impression that the higher your heart rate the more calories you'll burn. So on days where you take your medicine you probably will burn more calories that day then the days you don't take it. Its not that your hrm will over estimate its just your heart rate will be faster that day so you will burn more calories. I hope this helps I'm not sure if its what you were looking for.
  • Rungirlemc
    Rungirlemc Posts: 1 Member
    Hi there! I don't see that you ever received a response that actually addressed your question, so I'll try! Theoretically, if your heart rate increases faster when you're taking the adderall, the heart rate monitor is likely to be giving you a skewed result in terms of your fitness level. Your recovery heart rate (how quickly it returns to resting from the upper limits of your heart rate zone) would be a better determinant I think of your general fitness level (which coincides with calories burned). That being said, I take adderall too and I program a separate set of heart rate zones into the device for when my HR is elevated from the meds. I would NOT suggest doing that however, if you are not in good cardiovascular shape!! Definitely best to ask a trainer or doc, but if all you're worried about is calories, your results should be fairly accurate if you can program a different resting HR into the device to use when you're on it (the Karvonen method someone posted below would be best for figuring that out). Hope that sort of helps!
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