There is a lot of fitness gear on the market and it can be tough to figure out what you need. Really, you don’t need anything more than a pair of sneakers, but certain gadgets can make exercise more enjoyable or can help you get the most out of a workout. I highly recommend adding a heart rate monitor to your gym bag.
I worked out for years without a heart rate monitor. It was something I was curious about, but figured it was an unnecessary expense. But eventually I decided to get one—when I found a $33 brand-new model from Timex on Amazon.com.
This Timex Heart Rate Monitor Watch has been great! It comes with a watch and a chest strap. To use it, wet the inside of the chest strap (with a few drops of water) and adjust it so the logo on the strap sits right over your chest (for women, this is usually right under the breasts and sports bra). Then put the watch on your wrist and turn it on. Within seconds, you’ll have a heart rate reading.
Wear the watch and strap while working out to get an idea of your heart rate while exercising. To get the best cardio benefits, it’s suggested you work out at 60 to 80 percent of your max heart rate (max heart rate is roughly determined by 220 minus your age).
What I love about having a HRM is that you can see how hard you are working. You may be sweating and huffing and puffing, but your heart rate will reveal if you are actually getting a good workout. This keeps you accountable and helps you make the most of each sweat session. Checking your heart rate and realizing it’s below the cardio zone might provide the motivation you need to turn it up a notch. You can also keep yourself from overdoing it. It’s not necessary or healthy to work out at your max all the time. Keeping your heart rate in the right zone is kind of a fun and distracting game when working out.
This Timex version also works with the sensors on most cardio machines, so you don’t need the watch: your heart rate will appear on the machine. I like to wear it during classes so I can get a good idea of how hard a class actually is. If my heart rate is the same as it is during a run, I know I’m really working.
The HRM comes with instructions to test your resting heart rate. A low resting heart rate is generally a sign of a healthy cardiovascular system, so by measuring it, you can get an idea of your starting point. You can also observe how long it takes your heart to go from its cardio zone back down to a resting number—the faster it falls, the healthier your heart is. For these reasons, it’s a great way to keep track of progress in terms of health instead of pounds.
For $30, this was an extremely worth-it fitness investment for me.
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