Heart Rates while exercising

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ckapes
ckapes Posts: 31
in Fitness and Exercise
I have been reading a lot of posts about the HRM, which I have one. A lot of you mentioned that your heart rates get up into the 180's when working out hard. I am trying to get back into running and when I am running my heart rate goes up to the 170's or higher depending on the distance, speed, hills, etc. I was always told that I should keep my rate in the high 130's - 140's so that I am burning fat not muscle. I was told that if I maintain a higher heart rate then is recommended I will be burning muscle. When my heart rate climbs to the higher numbers, I stop and walk and then I run again when my rate has stablized to the 130's. Is this the proper thing to do, or should I not worry and push myself to complete my run (approx 2 miles) and then cool down? I am 53 years old and am now down to 204 lbs. I have been back to exercising for approximtely one month.

Replies

  • MMarvelous
    MMarvelous Posts: 1,067 Member
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    Great question! I can't wait to see the responses.
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
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    I want to say there is a chart that shows you where your heart rate should be for your age. But I will stand by and let someone more knowledgeable answer this. I just didn't want you thinking no one cared and was just reading :)
  • honeysprinkles
    honeysprinkles Posts: 1,757 Member
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    I'm no expert, but I don't worry when my heart rate gets in the 170s because it means I am working out harder and burning more calories. I don't know about the whole muscle burning thing, but it doesn't sound right. I slow down when my body is telling me to and that's usually any higher than the 170s but that number could be different for each person. I say just listen to your body. When you are overexerting yourself, you're body will let you know and then you can slow it down a bit.
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
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    http://whatscookingamerica.net/HealthBeauty/HighIntensityWorkout.htm

    I hope this link will help alittle
  • sculley
    sculley Posts: 2,012 Member
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    How to determine you Target Heart Rate Zone

    MHR = maximum heart rate
    bpm = beats per minute


    30 year-old woman
    40 year-old woman
    50 year-old woman
    60 year-old woman


    Find your maximum heart rate (MHR) by subtracting your age from 220.

    220 - 30 = 190 MHR
    220 - 40 = 180 MHR
    220 - 50 = 170 MHR
    220 - 60 = 160 MHR


    Next multiple (MHR) by 0.60 = lower end of the target heart rate zone.

    190 x .60 - 114 bpm
    180 x 0.60 = 108 bpm
    170 x .60 = 102 bpm
    160 x .60 = 96 bpm






    Next multiply (MHR) by 0.90 = upper end of the target heart rate zone.

    190 x .90 = 171 bpm
    180 x 0.90 = 162 bpm
    170 x .90 = 153 bpm
    160 x .90 = 144 bpm


    Target heart rate zone

    114 to 171 bpm
    108 to 162 bpm
    102 to 153 bpm
    96 to 144 bpm

    The two numbers above represent the target heart rate zone. You should strive to stay between these two numbers during your workout.



    Does this help (I pasted what I saw on link)
  • karenwill2
    karenwill2 Posts: 604 Member
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    http://www.heart.com/heart-rate-chart.html


    look this over and see if it helps.
  • crb1988
    crb1988 Posts: 134 Member
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    It depends on a lot of factors: Age, weight, height, sex, fitness level, etc.

    I'm 24, and now weigh 196 lbs (I started at 275 lbs a year ago). My max heart rate is 196, but the highest my HRM has ever recorded is 172, which felt very intense for me.
  • recriger
    recriger Posts: 245 Member
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    From what I remember, you are correct, there is a range for pure fat loss. The main reason for the zones is where the energy is taken from. The 130 to 140 range pulls from fat stores only. I don't believe that the next range jumps directly to muscle though, since you have to be in those higher ranges to improve your running. There's a whole doctorate worth of places for our bodies to pull from. Too bad I can't afford the Doctorate eh?
  • jenifer7teen
    jenifer7teen Posts: 205 Member
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    http://www.brianmac.co.uk/hrm1.htm

    this has a great little calculator and explains it clearly (but not too long winded)


    the higher %'s are still beneficial to your cardiovascular health and improved your overall fitness so don't be afraid to enter them too!
  • ckapes
    ckapes Posts: 31
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    Yes, thanks. I should be between 100 - 150, which is a little higher then I thought. Now I just need to know if it is unhealthy to stay above that 150 heart rate for any length of time. Thanks for everyones input.
  • MHunte
    MHunte Posts: 149
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    Heart rate training zones are calculated by taking into consideration your Maximum Heart Rate (MHR) and your Resting Heart Rate (RHR). Within each training zone, subtle physiological effects take place to enhance your fitness.

    The Energy Efficient or Recovery Zone - 60% to 70%.

    Training within this zone develops basic endurance and aerobic capacity. All easy recovery running should be completed at a maximum of 70%. Another advantage to running in this zone is that while you are happily fat burning you may lose weight and you will be allowing your muscles to re-energise with glycogen, which has been expended during those faster paced workouts.


    The Aerobic Zone - 70% to 80%

    Training in this zone will develop your cardiovascular system. The body's ability to transport oxygen to, and carbon dioxide away from, the working muscles can be developed and improved. As you become fitter and stronger from training in this zone it will be possible to run some of your long weekend runs at up to 75%, so getting the benefits of some fat burning and improved aerobic capacity.

    The Anaerobic Zone - 80% to 90%

    Training in this zone will develop your lactic acid system. In this zone, your individual anaerobic threshold (AT) is found - sometimes referred to the point of deflection (POD). During these heart rates, the amount of fat being utilised as the main source of energy is greatly reduced and glycogen stored in the muscle is predominantly used. One of the by-products of burning this glycogen is lactic acid. There is a point at which the body can no longer remove the lactic acid from the working muscles quickly enough. This is your anaerobic threshold (AT). Through the correct training, it is possible to delay the AT by being able to increase your ability to deal with the lactic acid for a longer period of time or by pushing the AT higher.

    The Red Line Zone 90% to 100%

    Training in this zone will only be possible for short periods. It effectively trains your fast twitch muscle fibres and helps to develop speed. This zone is reserved for interval running and only the very fit are able to train effectively within this zone.

    Heart rate variations for a given intensity

    A reduction in heart rate for a given intensity is usually due to an improvement in fitness but a number of other factors might explain why heart rates can vary for a given intensity:
    Dehydration can increase the heart rate by up to 7.5%
    Heat and humidity can increase the heart rate by 10 beats/minute
    Altitude can increase the heart rate by 10 to 20%, even when acclimatised
    Biological variation can mean the heart rate varies from day to day by 2 to 4 beats/minute

    Resting Heart Rate

    To determine your resting heart rate (RHR) is very easy. Find somewhere nice and quiet, lie down and relax. Position a watch or clock where you can clearly see it whilst lying down. After 20 minutes determine your resting pulse rate (beats/min). Use this value as your RHR.

    If you have a heart rate monitor then put it on before you lie down. After the 20 minutes check the recordings and identify the lowest value achieved. Use this value as your RHR.

    The heart is a muscle so with regular exercise it will become larger and become more efficient as a pump. As a result you will find your resting heart rate gets lower so you will need to check your RHR on a regular basis (e.g. Monthly).

    Calculation of a zone value

    The calculation of a zone value, X%, is performed in the following way:
    Subtract your RHR from your MHR giving us your working heart rate (WHR)
    Calculate the required X% on the WHR giving us "Z"
    Add "Z" and your RHR together to give us the final value

    Example:An athlete's MHR is 180 and their RHR is 60 - determine the 70% value
    MHR - RHR = 180 - 60 = 120
    70% of 120 = 84
    84 + RHR = 84 + 60 = 144 bpm
  • KareninCanada
    KareninCanada Posts: 820 Member
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    Good information, thanks!! :smile:


    So.... my resting heart rate is 55. I'm 34 which would make my max heart rate be 186.

    Using that math, I'm on the right track when my heart rate gets up to 160-170 when I'm lifting, and stays generally around 130-140 when I'm walking. Correct?


    Now, does this also imply that working for a while at recovery level AFTER doing a lifting session would be a good thing?
  • TubbsMcGee
    TubbsMcGee Posts: 1,058 Member
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    I was always told that I should keep my rate in the high 130's - 140's so that I am burning fat not muscle. I was told that if I maintain a higher heart rate then is recommended I will be burning muscle. When my heart rate climbs to the higher numbers, I stop and walk and then I run again when my rate has stablized to the 130's.

    Who told you that you were burning muscle?

    You're WORKING muscle, and building them, not burning it away!
  • beachquilt
    beachquilt Posts: 39 Member
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    I got this off the walkingsite.com but it is the same thing my trainer told me the other day:

    "TRAINING ZONES

    Healthy Heart Zone (Warm up) --- 50 - 60% of maximum heart rate: The easiest zone and probably the best zone for people just starting a fitness program. It can also be used as a warm up for more serious walkers. This zone has been shown to help decrease body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol. It also decreases the risk of degenerative diseases and has a low risk of injury. 85% of calories burned in this zone are fats!

    Fitness Zone (Fat Burning) --- 60 - 70% of maximum heart rate: This zone provides the same benefits as the healthy heart zone, but is more intense and burns more total calories. The percent of fat calories is still 85%.

    Aerobic Zone (Endurance Training) --- 70 - 80% of maximum heart rate: The aerobic zone will improve your cardiovascular and respiratory system AND increase the size and strength of your heart. This is the preferred zone if you are training for an endurance event. More calories are burned with 50% from fat.

    Anaerobic Zone (Performance Training) --- 80 - 90% of maximum heart rate: Benefits of this zone include an improved VO2 maximum (the highest amount of oxygen one can consume during exercise) and thus an improved cardiorespiratory system, and a higher lactate tolerance ability which means your endurance will improve and you'll be able to fight fatigue better. This is a high intensity zone burning more calories, 15 % from fat.

    Red Line (Maximum Effort) --- 90 - 100% of maximum heart rate: Although this zone burns the highest number of calories, it is very intense. Most people can only stay in this zone for short periods. You should only train in this zone if you are in very good shape and have been cleared by a physician to do so."


    My trainer said to try to be in these different zones in different workouts during the week - mix them up because each targets different goals. I also researched and found out that when your are not burning as many fat calories, you are burning carbohydrates. After burning carbohydrates your body must replenish and does that from fat stores. So even if you are not burning as much fat in the higher target zones, you eventually will lose fat due to the carbhydrates replenishing from the fat stores. I don't know if I have the lingo exactly right but hopefully you get the idea.

    No where did I read that having your heart rate high during exercise burns muscle. It is not bad to train in those higher target zones. Each zone just has different benefits.

    I am no expert on this but just what I have learned from a trainer and doing some research online.
  • hungryPHATbunny
    hungryPHATbunny Posts: 84 Member
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    Ido same as you...I used to take my heart rate much higher but actually that can also be dangerous, ESP for me since I have exercise-induced urticaria too...anyhow, the fat burning happens in the range that you mention...safer and more successful for fat burning...just think most doctors recommend that walking is the best form of exercise....our heart rates don't go above 170 when we walk...
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
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    There is no such thing as a 'fat burning" range. There is a lot of variability in heart rate response to exercise--I have gotten to the point where I don't even bother giving out target heart rates to clients--unless I work with them regularly and learn their specific HR response to different intensities.

    The problem with all those elaborate "zone" descriptions is that Maximum Heart Rate can vary by 30 beats/minute among individuals who are the same age. Basically, 1 out of 3 people who use a heart rate chart will be working at a target heart rate that is significantly wrong for them. You always want to compare your heart rate with your feelings of perceived exertion and set up your own "scale".

    The fuel you burn during exercise--whatever mix of carbs or fat--has no effect on stored body fat. Anyone who is actively trying to stay in a "fat burning" exercise zone is just sentencing themselves to an unbalanced and often less-effective workout program.

    You should include a mix of intensities and durations in your cardio. Your fitness level will improve faster, allowing you to work harder and burn more total calories--and that's the most important thing.
  • trijoe
    trijoe Posts: 729 Member
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    The problem with all those elaborate "zone" descriptions is that Maximum Heart Rate can vary by 30 beats/minute among individuals who are the same age. Basically, 1 out of 3 people who use a heart rate chart will be working at a target heart rate that is significantly wrong for them. You always want to compare your heart rate with your feelings of perceived exertion and set up your own "scale".

    A nice problem to point out. Looking up your MHR off some chart somewhere does you no good whatsoever. You're not a chart, you're a person who's max/min HR can differ wildly from the rest of people out there, based on any number of variables. If you REALLY want to know your zones, you have to know your body, and there's no chart on earth that will tell you that. You gotta do that learning yourself.

    Good luck figuring it all out! And, for what it's worth, I zone train all the time. I try to do a large amount of Z2 runs and rides, with occasional hill/speed drills where I get up into Z4, and occasionally (though not often) Z5.

    Hope this helps.
  • carolynbarbeau
    carolynbarbeau Posts: 1
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    Why did your age only go to 60???

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