Heart rate (when exercising)?

LilacDreamer
LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anyone find that their heart rate goes to high when exercising (like at the gym)?

Mine gets up to 180 when im on a fast-ish pace on the treadmill....like 180s
but the chart on the machines say for my age (27) it shouldnt go above like 155....

Age: 27
Current weight: 256
Height: 5'7

I'm pretty much a beginner at all this.

Replies

  • nickscutie
    nickscutie Posts: 303 Member
    Okay, I'll touch this one. If you are serious...

    Your heart rate increases when you exercise, that is how you burn calories and work your heart muscle, thereby improving your cardiovascular fitness.

    If you really just started and have not been very active before, then it is not surprising that your heart rate is so high doing strenuous activity. At 180 you are probably still okay, but likely getting close to your upper limit. I would try to figure out what your zone 3 upper limit is and try to stay below that. Perhaps a HRM would be good for you, with a fitness program that tells you what all your target heart rate zones are based upon your weight, sex, etc. I use a polar ft 60.

    Also, if you feel like you are going to die, you should probably slow down. That is my expert advice.

    Maybe this will help you: http://www.sarkproducts.com/targetzonecalculator.htm
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,364 Member
    Okay, I'll touch this one. If you are serious...

    Your heart rate increases when you exercise, that is how you burn calories and work your heart muscle, thereby improving your cardiovascular fitness.


    Also, if you feel like you are going to die, you should probably slow down. That is my expert advice.

    IF I am serious? That's a really ridiculous way to approach my question. I KNOW the heart rate goes up when you exercise - but there is a CHART on the machines and that is your guideline for where your heart rate should be. Mine goes ABOVE that. There was really no need to be a jerk when responding to my question.

    And I NEVER said i felt like i was going to die, awesome job putting words in my mouth though.
  • andesjardins02
    andesjardins02 Posts: 4
    I just started exercising this month. The first time I went to the gym, I was on the elliptical and my HR got up to 186.....that's way too high. I needed to learn to slow down and let my body adjust to exercising. I set the elliptical to 165 for my target heart rate and when I reach that, I slow down just a little bit to maintain that - I do not let myself get over 170. I know that the more I exercise, the healthier my heart is getting and I am able to work a little harder without raising my HR as high now.

    Just slow down a bit, build up some heart strength and after a bit, you'll be able to work just as hard as you are now - without raising your HR so high. :)
  • xsmilexforxmex
    xsmilexforxmex Posts: 1,216 Member
    Mine goes up to about 186 fairly quickly when I work out... I workout minimum 2x week, sometimes up to 5.. I was reading yesterday and the site said that above your 'zone' is typically considered endurance training.. so while you improve your cardiovascular function you are improving your ability to do more longer, however you burn up to 10-25% fat and 75% muscle with this.. in your zone you burn a higher % fat.

    As far as your Max HR goes, it is different for everyone..
    Maybe this will help you: http://www.sarkproducts.com/targetzonecalculator.htm
    This is a really good calculator for determining your zones and rate.. just figure in your resting HR to make it more accurate (you can do this by taking your HR before you get out of bed in the AM)
  • nxcguy
    nxcguy Posts: 15 Member
    dont worry if you stay with it soon you will have to tax yourself just to get in the zone.
  • theoneandonlybrookie
    theoneandonlybrookie Posts: 341 Member
    Everyone has a different maximum heart rate, even people who are the same gender, size, age, etc. Your max heart rate and heart rate zones are very unique to you. For me, personally, the 180s mean that I am hitting my zone 5 and should probably back off a bit to stay in upper zone 4. However, that might not be true for you. For another person, the 180s might mean that they are about to pass out because they are pushing themselves way too hard.

    You can actually perform a lactate threshold test on your own to determine your true zones. Here's an example of one:

    http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=633

    It's tough! When I did it, it was 20 minutes, balls to the wall on the bike. I threw up immediately after. However, I found it very useful in training.
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