Target Heart Rate

[JennyRebecca]

Hi Everyone,

My Charge 2 arrived yesterday.  I'm in love!  🙂

I excercised for the first time with it yesterday.  I did the elliptical for 20 minutes.  It says I spent 71% of my time in the red or peak area.  Is that okay?  Do I need to stay in the orange or cardio area for the best results?

[USAF-Larry]

Congratulatioons, @JennyRebecca!  Not problem in having your HR in the Peak zone as long as you were able to beathe without gasping, and there was no pain or shortness of breath.  I did a long workout yesterday and was able to keep it in the Peak zone for almost the entire duration.

[JennyRebecca]

Thanks Larry!  I remember something from health class (way back in the day) about being about going over your THR.  I thought if it went too high it stopped being fat burning.  85% of my max heart rate is about 151 bpm.  I didn't know if I should stay at that for the best results.  When I really pushed myself yesterday I got up to 164.  It was hard.  I couldn't talk to someone but I wasn't short of breath. After a bit, I slowed down and it stayed around 154.

[USAF-Larry]

@JennyRebecca, unless you have had a Heart Stress Test, your max heart rate probably isn't what you think it is.  According to the standard of 220 minus your age, 85% of my max heart rate would be somewhere around 125. But, when I had a heart stress test done, it showed that 85% of my max HR was closer to 200.  There are a lot of factors not included in that standard formula of 220 minus your age - some people are a lot lower, and some people are lot higher.

[JennyRebecca]

Thanks!!  Super helpful!

[emili]

Congrats on your purchase and welcome to the community. The best way to know if you are peaked peaked and not just number peaked is how you feel. The fact that you couldn't talk but were still breathing normally (no struggle or pant) means everything was going as it should. Your body will tell you when its done being in peak - you will feel very breathless, fatigued, dizzy and even nauseous. If that happens, back off until the feeling passes and see how you feel about speeding up again. Most important listen to your body (not your brain- your brain will get tired and bored way sooner than your body). Have fun!

[JennyRebecca]

@emili Thanks!  That's very helpful to know.  It's been such a fun and motivating week wearing it.  🙂