Info on "Unfit" resting heart rates? Charge HR

[mamiejay]

I just got a charge HR and I'm using it to try to get in shape. I'm "middle aged" and reasonably healthy. My BMI is 24-25 so on the high end of normal.  I don't get enough exercise hence the fitbit.   Have been using it almost two weeks and my FB "resting" Heart Rate is around 90 or in the low 90s.  When I sleep it's in the high seventies to mid eighties, and when I am doing regular daily activities (not exercise) it varies between low eighties (right now at my desk it is 83) and up to around 100 or so. 

Can any other "out of shape" - (but not extremely) people share their numbers?  I'm just trying to get an idea whether I need to see a doctor or something immediately based on these high numbers, or whether I fall within a spectrum that is somewhat normal and I should just try diet and exercise to bring it down for a couple months.  I don't huff and puff when I exercise etc so I don't think I'm all that out of shape that I should read this high.  My blood pressure is normal.

[PaulATMP]

Like you I just got my Charge HR. I've used a Polar heart rate monitor for many years when I'm exercising. I have found the Charge HR to be very accurate to my Polar - which reads your heart rate directly from your heart using a chest strap. So assuming you are getting similar accuracy, your range seems very low between resting and active. If moving around is only raising your rate to 100, your underlying fitness sounds pretty good, but I would agree that your resting rate does sound a little higher than I would expect.

I should stress that I have no medical background, but have regular fitness assessments and have built up an expectation of my own heart rate from years of monitoring my activities. I'm also aware that women have higher resting heart rates than men - when comparing similar age / fitness levels and that your maximum heart rate reduces as you age. So there are many factors that impact on expectations of a "reasonable" heart rate.

If the Fitbit incentives you to be more active that can only be a good thing, but middle aged with a BMI of 25 and normal blood pressure isn't a bad starting point.

[awood08]

My resting is around 75-80

Fat burn is around 120-135

Cardio is around 150-160

I feel fit and have no problem working out and keeping up, but technically due to my height and weight on the BMI chart i'm still considered overweight.

[tally_]

I'm also in the upper end of normal BMI wise and the upper end of normal resting heart rate wise. They say that a healthy (normal) RHR is from 60-100 bpm. Mine is normally in the mid 80s though I've noticed a direct correlation to the amount of sleep I get and my resting heart rate the following day. For instance if I go out on a Friday night, have a few drinks then only get 6 hours of sleep my HR spikes up to 95 or so. If I eat healthy, stay away from booze and get 8+ hours my RHR plummets the following day. 

Have you noticed any similar correlations?

[mamiejay]

Interesting, thank you.  I have not, but I will try that.  I do work on a sleep deficit during the week and try to make it up on the weekend.  I notice that when I don't sleep with the FB on my daily HR is lower.  Which is weird because the sleep times are the lowest.  But I think when I get up in AM my adrenaline spikes while I get ready for the day and etc and the HR goes up right away.  I can't lay in bed calmly for 10 min after the alarm goes off - I put the alarm across the rm or else I'm not going to get up!  I do think that while FB is telling me my "resting" is 93 for today, the chart tells me that the times I was still and resting today were more like 80 or so.  I believe that's still high and that I have a high resting rate.  I read that there is a correllation between high HR in middle age and diabetes, and I have a bad feeling that I may end up diabetic. Maybe this new effort will stave it off, but I think if I don't get this down a few points w exercise I'm def going to get my heart checked just in case.

[SpartyKirt]

You guys are worrying me. My resting rate is around 62 most of the time. I can't hardly break 125 when I run which is usually short stretches as I have a plantar fasitis injury nagging me. I'm hardly in shape and I'm pushing 50 but I put on 15 k steps at least 5 times a week on avg. When I wake up it's usually 52-56. Wonder if something is wrong with me?

[mamiejay]

I think you are good - it is a concern to have a high heart rate and we are always encouraged to get it lower. So you might be in better shape than you think! 

[Poetstorm]

I always joke that my heart is like a clock because I am usually at exactly 60bpm resting. LOL 😄 Give or take a few degrees that's what the fitbit has been saying mostly as well so it seems very accurate. When I exercise say jogging for instance, it can go up to 130. When I am all out running 150. At work I believe  it goes from around 66 to 80. I'm an office worker and my bmi puts me at the cusp of obese, but I believe I am in pretty good shape.

I notce on the dashboard my resting heart rate has gone up and down over the past few weeks. I wonder what causes it to increase or decrease? Wish I could line p a sleep graph somehow and figure out if that's related. 

[PaulATMP]

Your stats sound fine to me. You have a similar resting heart rate to me, and I've spent a good few years getting it down to that level. Once a year I take the YMCA Step Test as part of my annual fitness assessment and I suspect you would score really well if you took it. 15,000 steps 5 times a week is very active - even if it is only walking at a moderate pace.

[emili]

If you have concerns about your HR- please please please go see your doctor. It is better for a medical professional to tell you all is well, than a friendly community that can only base it on their own experience. You have an arsenal of data at your finger tips to share with your doctor. Bring your phone and share all your numbers- please let them tell you that all is well. Particularly if you are worried about diabetes. I always wonder what exactly middle age is (do I live to be a 100, 90- either would be great)- so here are my stats- I am 45, - 5'7, 135 pounds. I work out everyday, I eat super healthy and my resting heart rate is 58. When I run, I can get up to 145 and it drops back down really quick. I did have high blood pressure (140 over 92) now my husband wonders if I am alive 110 over 65- just had my physical and got a slow clap from my doctor. Please make an appt. Its worth the copay for piece of mind.

[DominicJ]

My RHR is 60 and I'm hardly super fit.

Heart Rate doesnt tell you much on its own really, unless its hugely out of the norm, 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2024.aspx?CategoryID=52

The NHS "trigger points" are below 40bpm and above 120bpm

[Heybales]

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@DominicJ wrote:

My RHR is 60 and I'm hardly super fit.

Heart Rate doesnt tell you much on its own really, unless its hugely out of the norm, 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2024.aspx?CategoryID=52

The NHS "trigger points" are below 40bpm and above 120bpm

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Yes you are!

By now anyway.

[Heybales]

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@SpartyKirt wrote:
You guys are worrying me. My resting rate is around 62 most of the time. I can't hardly break 125 when I run which is usually short stretches as I have a plantarfasitis injury nagging me. I'm hardly in shape and I'm pushing 50 but I put on 15 k steps at least 5 times a week on avg. When I wake up it's usually 52-56. Wonder if something is wrong with me?

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That's a decent fit level. I wouldn't pay for special Dr visit just for that - but if you got other stuff to talk about or at annual physical, sure bring it up.

The fact you can't run fast enough because of injury and therefore push HR higher also indicates decent fitness level.

The more fit your are (higher VO2max) - the harder or more intense you must push yourself to still work the heart to the same level.

You could also have a genetically low HRmax. That has nothing to do with fitness.

And if fitness has happened later in life compared to great stretches of not so fit - then HRmax would have dropped at higher rate then compared to now if you are fit.

Oh - and stop trying run with plantar fasciitis - that's a great way to prolong an injury that needs rest, and your daily activity is already a stress on it.

[DominicJ]

"Yes you are!

 By now anyway."

Knee injury in August and Wrist injury in october 

I can probably qualifiy as above avcerage now 🙂

[Lilymook]

No the lower your resting heart rate the better (with exception).  It means your heart is strong.  Mine is around 50 and whenever I go the doctor or anything, their response when they see my HR is, "Runner?"

[carylene]

it depends on a lot of things...I think the most important thing is do you have any lightheadedness or dizziness when you get up, especially at night? If so you may want to see a cardiologist. Also, are you on cardiac medications like a beta blocker? They usually end in -lol like metoprolol, and you might be on them for blood pressure. If this is the case you may want to see your physician but don't just stop taking them.

[mamiejay]

Thanks, no, never have been on any medications for blood pressure or anything else.  I don't think I'm lightheaded when I get up... I do sort of have a spike in heart rate when I get up, but I feel like it's almost more like adrenaline - I'm not a morning person and stay up too late, I put the alarm clock across the room so I will have to get up to hit the snooze so I will actually get out of bed. So my first minutes awake are not "restful" for the resting HR. 

[Corney]

If you keep up with you exercise, adding about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise along with some strength training your resting heart rate should slow down as a result of the training effect.  Your aerobic exercise should be in your training zone, which is 200-you age x 75%, if you can't monitor it while exercise, exercise at rate that you can still carry on a confortable conversation.  If you can't talk comfortably you are outside you aerobic zone, on the other hand if it doesn't fell like you are exerting your self, working up a sweat, then you are probably below your aerobic zone.  Middle age?  If you are 50 your aerobic zone is

220-50= 170 x 75% = 127-128.

[Corney]

Don't be concerned about your BMI, I hope you purchased the Fitbit to become physically fit, just stay on course, do about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise along with some strength training and let everything take care of itself.  Keep up the good work!

[Corney]

Resting heart rate can be used as guage of you physical fitness.  As your fitness increases you heart becomes a more efficient pump ie. it pumps more blood per beat, therefor it needs to beat less often.  An athletes heart increases in size, but the heart wall does not increase in thickness, like the heart of a body builder.  Since it's size increases, it pumps more efficiently.  keep up the good work!