Target Heart Rate - does it really matter?

rebecky27
rebecky27 Posts: 842 Member
edited October 2 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a heart rate monitor that I have been using for Zumba. I noticed that during Zumba - my heart rate varies from 150 - 180 and I burn a crazy amount of calories in that hour of class.

During the fall, I volunteer as a coach and the practice hours conflict with my zumba class. :( I have started going to the gym and using the elliptical trainer there. Problem is, the elliptical gets a bit fussy with me and won't let my heart rate get above 146 before it starts blinking rudley and telling me to slow down..... Now my calorie burn is waaay lower than I'm used to for an hour's workout.

I wish there was a way to disable the elliptical's insistance that I put my hands on the sensors every two minutes for a reading....if I don't comply, it shuts off....but it gets me wondering, was I doing my body wrong by letting my heart rate get higher at Zumba and enjoying the calorie burn I got from doing so?

Replies

  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    Does your elliptical have an option to input your age? Tell your elliptical that you're 18 years old, and it should let your heart rate get higher.
  • dickclark5
    dickclark5 Posts: 1
    Take it off when using that machine - you already know what your heart rate will be.
  • jamie117100
    jamie117100 Posts: 48
    I don't think the heart rate goal really matters. If you are not burning a lot of calories for the heart rrate you are at, try workingout longer than you normally do. You may have to go longer to reach your calorie burn goal. In my oppinion, I think the calorie goal is more important than the heart rate goal.

    I hope this helps you out. :wink:
  • SmugCanucksGal
    SmugCanucksGal Posts: 79 Member
    I ebelive it has to do with Fat Burning vs jsut Calorie burning when it comes to the machines.

    "The body does burn a higher percentage of calories from fat in the fat burning zone or at lower intensities. However, at higher intensities (70-90% of your maximum heart rate), you burn a greater number of overall calories, which is what matters when it comes to losing weight."
  • aimeeturner
    aimeeturner Posts: 225 Member
    Does it allow you to select various types of training such as fat burn, cardio, etc.?
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    The fat burning zone is a bit of a myth - you still burn fat at other heart rates. So the "zone" doesn't matter, as long as you are working at a pace that you can maintain.
  • kikican82
    kikican82 Posts: 16
    Can you switch the Elliptical to a "manual" mode (don't input your age/weight/etc) and just manually increase the resistance as you'd like?

    I usually do that....
  • rebecky27
    rebecky27 Posts: 842 Member
    Can you switch the Elliptical to a "manual" mode (don't input your age/weight/etc) and just manually increase the resistance as you'd like?

    I usually do that....
    Ah! Yes....it does let me do that! Thank you! Just wanted to be sure I can't do harm by letting heart rate get and stay elevated like I do during Zumba. Was thinking there must be a reason that thing shuts itself off when my heart rate is elevated for that long! Guess not tho...no worries!
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
    Can you just put a towel or something over the eliptical's display to make it easier to ignore?

    As for target heart rate... it does matter, but only to about 5% of people. For the average person, just burn your calories, have a good post-workout meal/shake and go on about your business.
  • rebecky27
    rebecky27 Posts: 842 Member
    Can you just put a towel or something over the eliptical's display to make it easier to ignore?
    I didn't post originally that the machine actually shuts itself off, or puts the resistance so high that I cannot move it any longer when my heartrate goes above the target for a certain number of reads. It shuts off when I don't do the readings as well.
    Fussy thing!
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