Jogging immediately puts me over my target heart rate?

Jackson4590
Jackson4590 Posts: 145 Member
edited November 12 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a healthy 28 year old male. I have lost 20 pounds over the past 6 months and am right in the middle of the target BMI zone. I have been jogging for the past few months and recently bought a chest-strap HRM. Unfortunately, at the slightest jog pace it shoots my HR into the 90% range (190). When I walk normally it says I am "in the zone" (150-160). Everything I have read says to be under 85% so I have to stop jogging and start walking when I see this. I had the HRM automatically do the calculations based on my height and weight (yes, I double-checked it) and it still says this.

It is discouraging me because I don't want to over-exert myself. Is this common and what can I do to jog "in the zone"?

Thanks!

Replies

  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    Heh, I'd love to know too. I can walk all day at a fairly rapid pace and barely break a sweat, but as soon as I start to jog, my heartrate spikes. WTF?
  • JayByrd107
    JayByrd107 Posts: 282 Member
    You may want to check the accuracy of the HRM by simultaneously checking it manually. Here's how: http://www.ehow.com/how_2077783_monitor-heart-rate-manually.html

    Other than that, I aint got nothin'.
  • im_blessed
    im_blessed Posts: 74 Member
    bump. i'll like to know this as well.
  • getalife9353
    getalife9353 Posts: 100 Member
    Keep in mind the "automatic" setting that your HRM calculates is based on a statistical calculation, usually it is 220 - your age in yrs. This may not be accutate for you. My polar HRM had my max HR at 167 bpm. In reality I twice had a max hr of 180 bpm in back to back bicylcle rides. These where not just momentary spikes, I would hit 180 and stay there for a little while. This was showing as 118% of calculated max. I manually change my max HR setting in my HRM to 180 bpm. So I would say either have a test done in a clinical setting to determine your true max, or go out for an intense jog and see what you actaully max out at. Then set it manually. Also if you are just starting out jogging or doing other cardio exercise, (more then just walking) you may see a quick increase in HR. Keep at it for a few weeks and you will find it more difficult to get and keep your HR up. It's just part of becoming more physically fit. It will not hurt you to exercise at 90 or 95% max HR. You just can't keep it up for long. You can always do interval training, where you push youself to say 85 -90% max HR, then back off (walk) and let your HR drop to some predetermined level, say 75% Max HR, then repeat.
  • nuttyfamily
    nuttyfamily Posts: 3,394 Member
    I posted a similar question not long ago with responses that some others do experience this too but no real as to why.

    And because of that, I always have a higher cal burn than on all the different calculators.

    I am going to ask my doc about it the next time I am in to see him but decided I will keep on exercising as I had been because I don't fee exerted or pushing it.
  • LMHinson15
    LMHinson15 Posts: 201 Member
    Keep in mind the "automatic" setting that your HRM calculates is based on a statistical calculation, usually it is 220 - your age in yrs. This may not be accutate for you. My polar HRM had my max HR at 167 bpm. In reality I twice had a max hr of 180 bpm in back to back bicylcle rides. These where not just momentary spikes, I would hit 180 and stay there for a little while. This was showing as 118% of calculated max. I manually change my max HR setting in my HRM to 180 bpm. So I would say either have a test done in a clinical setting to determine your true max, or go out for an intense jog and see what you actaully max out at. Then set it manually. Also if you are just starting out jogging or doing other cardio exercise, (more then just walking) you may see a quick increase in HR. Keep at it for a few weeks and you will find it more difficult to get and keep your HR up. It's just part of becoming more physically fit. It will not hurt you to exercise at 90 or 95% max HR. You just can't keep it up for long. You can always do interval training, where you push youself to say 85 -90% max HR, then back off (walk) and let your HR drop to some predetermined level, say 75% Max HR, then repeat.

    This.
  • sissamae
    sissamae Posts: 232 Member
    My sis and I just talked about this earlier today! I am 31 and have bee jogging for months and my heart rate is still in the 180's when I run/jog. I am hoping that this will go lower the more I run, but not really sure. Will def be talking to my doctor to be sure, but I am still jogging like I always have :)
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    I have been hearing this type of story since HRMs started becoming popular in the early 1990s (even before HRMs had a calorie-counting feature).

    People are exercising just fine, then they strap on an HRM and freak out.

    The other comment that talks about the "statistics" of recommended heart rate settings is correct. There are a small percentage of people whose rapid heart rate is a sign of a medical issue that needs to be addressed. However, for most people it is just a normal variation. If you have concerns, you can check with a doctor--esp is the HR is sustained at, say over 200 bpm. However, many docs are not really knowledgeable about exercise heart rates, so you could get sent down a rabbit hole as well.

    You won't ever read about this in an HRM manual because, let's face it, they need to be as general and vanilla as possible to avoid liability exposure.

    If you are working out the way you have always worked out, then chances are the heart rate you see is the heart rate you have. You can estimate the higher max HR number and refigure your "zones" from there (google "karvonen method").

    Whatever you do, don't sabotage a quality program by slowing down to stay in some mythical "fat burning" range.
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