Heart Rate question

[madra29]

I'm newer in a fitness journey that I'm actually sticking to. The last couple weeks I have been incorporating some strength training and have noticed that my heart rate in general is higher even when I'm not active, is this normal at the start of adding in strength? Any advice and insights would be appreciated, thank you!

[RiekoC]

Hello @madra29 

I think it's not uncommon for a person's heart rate to be initially on the higher side when they start doing exercise on a routine basis. I seem to recall that's what happened to me. Eventually, you should see the benefits of your workouts and lower heart rate.

If you continue to see higher heart rate, even when you're not active, this might be something to discuss with your healthcare provider.

[siaenko]

---

@madra29 wrote:

I'm newer in a fitness journey that I'm actually sticking to. The last couple weeks I have been incorporating some strength training and have noticed that my heart rate in general is higher even when I'm not active, is this normal at the start of adding in strength? Any advice and insights would be appreciated, thank you!

---

Absolutely normal! When you start strength training, your body is adapting increased heart rate at rest can happen due to muscle recovery and your nervous system being more stimulated. Just keep an eye on how you feel overall, and it should settle with time.

[gunesinahmeti]

I had the same thing happen when I first added strength training on top of cardio. My resting HR went up for a few weeks, which I later realized was just my body adapting to the extra stress and recovery demands. Making sure I was sleeping enough, drinking plenty of water, and spacing my workouts so I wasn’t going heavy every single day really helped.

If you’re tracking, try checking your HR first thing in the morning before getting out of bed - that’s often the best way to see if your body is still recovering. Over time it should trend back down as your fitness improves.