Target Heart Rate: Fit in a Minute

Aired on Lifetime Television
Sunday, January 8 and October 8, 2006
Show 301

Do you know what your target heart rate is? To get the most out of your work out, try reaching for a target heart rate. This will allow you to achieve your aerobic fitness goals without having to push yourself too hard. It's easy to find your rate. The internet has dozens of different calculators that factor your age and even your current fitness level. And many exercise machines provide charts or built-in monitors. The target heart rate may differ slightly, but the important thing is to exercise within a range, usually plus or minus 10 beats from your target. For example, a 40-year-old woman might have a target heart rate of around 130 beats per minute. So you should exercise hard enough to raise your heart rate to at least 120, but not more than 140. You are looking for a heart rate that you can sustain for 20 to 30 minutes at a time. If you can't carry on a conversation, then your heart rate is probably too high. Remember, when it comes to exercise, it's important to train and not strain.