Hart rate too high?

julk_1212
julk_1212 Posts: 20 Member
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I have just started working out agian as part of my goal for losing weight. After doing weights (crunches, leg, and arm weights) I move to cardio. The cardio matchines at the gym have the heart rate monitor where you put your hand on it and it gives you a reading. Well I upped my game and am doing the olyptical and fairly fast paced, but it feels good... However yesterday and today the matchine gave me a warning that my heart rate is too high! It said I was at around 175! But I don't feel like there is anything wrong, so I've been ignoring it. Do you think its the matchine? If it is that high is it really that bad if I don't feel faint or anything? Do I need to be cautious?
My workout leaves me feeling good, so I'd rather not change it, but I dont want to hurt myself! Help please!
Thanks!
Oh, in case this is important to the question I'm 25 and currently 175 pounds.

Replies

  • schobert101
    schobert101 Posts: 218 Member
    The machine doesn't know what your true maximum heart rate is. Even if you put in your age and statistics it uses a standard formula for calculating heart rate ranges. My true maximum heart rate is approximately 30 beats per minute higher than the one given by formulas. One's maximum heart rate is mostly genetic and not a funciton of training or conditioning although it will decline a bit with age. If you do not know what your true maximum is and you feel good I do not think you need to worry unless you are having other worrisome symptoms. Once you have been exercising for some time you will likely be able to tell by how you feel what range you are in...........that is known as 'perceived exertion'..........and if you are not using a heart rate monitor using the CORRECT zones with the CORRECT maximum heart rate for you then using perceived exertion is not a bad substitute.

    My personal maxiumum is about 190 so I also feel fine at a rate of 175 but since I am 58 years old if I use the standard formula of 220 - age it would put my maximum at only 162............I'm just warming up then.
  • jbug100
    jbug100 Posts: 406 Member
    I also use elliptical all the time.mine also let's me know when my HR is high. I do not think this is dangerous, I just think the machine is programmed to make you aware that you are working at your max. I do HIIT training where I get my HR to max, then do intervals with my HR around 150, (max about 170). It sounds like you can work out at that HR, but maybe do some intervals at a lower HR. This will burn lots of fat and cals!
  • hilhall822
    hilhall822 Posts: 116 Member
    My heart rate often gets to 181 or so when I run- it's fast but I'm not about to pass out from it, either. I say, listen to your body. If you take a pause, do you start to get dizzy? That's happened to me when hiking (taking a rest and I get dizzy), and that's my clue to slow down a little.
  • seanoca1
    seanoca1 Posts: 7
    175 actually does sound high for a sustained period of time, as that is going to be 80 - 90% of your max heart rate. Depending on the heart rate monitor you use, you can program in "training zones" or it will recommend zones based on your height, weight, age, etc. If you are just starting to do Cardio on a consistent basis, I would recommend training in zones 2 and 3 the majority of the time. Try to keep your average heart rate in the 140 -150 for length of the workout - it's okay if you have interval spikes of 175, but you shouldn't stay there for more than a minute or two at a time. I would also mix in a few workouts where you work out longer and keep an average heart rate in the 120's.

    Check your resting heart rate periodically (every couple of months or so). You should see it start to go down over time, which means you are getting healthy. Once your resting heart rate starts dropping, the weight will soon follow.
  • PetraCore
    PetraCore Posts: 11 Member
    Because of my genetics, my maximum heart rate is predicted at 205 bpm... I scare people at the gym sometimes. This of course is way beyond what the standard age/fitness charts say it should be. But for me it is normal. If you are really worried have it professionally tested and find out what is right for you.
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