Sunday, October 31, 2010

What Zones Are Right For You?

By Kurt Mcglinchey

We all know that it is important to exercise, but what many people do not realize is that there is a range where your heart rate should stay for an effective exercise. This is known as your Target Heart Rate Zone. Training in the correct heart rate zone is important to weightloss and overall heart health.

To figure out your heart rate zone you will need to determine your max heart rate. To do this you take the number 220 and subtract your age. For example if you are twenty you will take 220 minus 20 and come out with the answer 200. This means that your max heart rate is 200 bpm (beats per minute).

After your max heart rate has been figured out you will then need to figure out your heart rate zone. To do this you will need to take your max heart rate and multiply it by both sixty and eighty percent. Once you have that math completed you will be left with two new numbers that compile the high and low end of your heart rate zone.

With these new numbers you now have you want to make sure that during your workouts your heart rate stays in that given range. In doing so you are ensuring that the most vital muscle in your body, your heart, is able to circulate oxygenated blood around to your muscles and organs. If your heart is beating too fast or is not beating fast enough your body will not be provided with the correct amount of oxygen that it needs to sustain the activity you are participating in.

When you workout and keep your heart between those set points you are also continually burning calories. When you burn calories it is less likely that your body will have an excess amount of fat on it. This also keeps the body from depositing fat on or around the heart which could eventually lead to a heart attack.

The heart rate zone plays an important role in our weight loss and overall heart health. The more you exercise within the zone the healthier your body and heart will be overall. Take the time and figure out your heart rate zone before your next workout.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment