HEART RATE
As you exercise, your heart rate increases. This is often used as a measure of the required
intensity of an exercise. You need to exercise hard enough to condition your circulatory
system, and increase your pulse rate, but not enough to strain your heart.
Your initial level of fitness is important when developing an exercise program. Depending on
the individual, when starting an exercise program, you can achieve good training results with
a heart rate of 110-120 beats per minute (BPM). If you are more fit, you will need a higher
threshold of stimulation.
To begin with, you should exercise at a level that elevates your heart rate to about 65 to 70%
of your maximum heart rate. If you find this is too easy, you may want to increase it, but it is
better to lean on the conservative side.
As a rule of thumb, your maximum heart rate is calculated by subtracting your age from 220.
As you increase in age, your heart, like other muscles, loses some of its efficiency. Some of
this loss can be won back as fitness improves.
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR HEART RATE
Immediately after exercising, take your heart rate by applying two fingers to your wrist or
carotid artery in the neck. Count the beats for ten seconds. Multiply the number of beats
times 6 to calculate your current heart rate in BPM (beats per minute). Ten seconds is long
enough for accuracy. Since heart rate slows as you recover, a count longer than ten seconds
isn't as accurate.
The following tables are guides for target heart rate per beginning fitness and above average
fitness levels based on your age.
BEGINNER FITNESS LEVEL
AGE GROUP
10 Second Count
Heart Rate In Beats Per Minute
ABOVE AVERAGE FITNESS LEVEL
AGE GROUP
10 Second Count
Heart Rate In Beats Per Minute
Don't push yourself too hard to reach the figures on this table. It can be very uncomfortable
if you over exercise. Let it happen naturally as you work through your program. Remember,
the target is a guide, not a rule, a little above or below is just fine.
Don't be concerned with day to day variations in your pulse rate. Being under pressure or not
enough sleep can affect it. Your pulse rate is a guide, don't become obsessed with it.
8
TRAINING GUIDELINES
25
30
23
22
138
132
25
30
26
26
156
156
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35
40
45
22
21
20
132
126
120
35
40
45
25
24
23
150
144
138
132
50
55
60
19
19
18
114
114
108
50
55
60
22
22
21
132
126
65
18
108
65
20
120