I have to start by saying that I am not the best at learning how to operate complicated gadgets, so I was a little hesitant about purchasing a fancy new watch/stopwatch/heart rate monitor for fear that I might never use it. But I have been curious to see if my workouts are as effective as I think they are and I could use a new sports watch, so here goes!
I always start my shopping for stuff like this online. That way I can do some research on my own first and read some user reviews before making a purchase. My search led me to HeartRateMonitor.com which has a large selection of heart rate monitors and carries the Polar brand which seems to have a good following. They have a range of watches that will do everything you could possibly want, from diving to GPS. My pick was the Polar F6 for $99.
My fears about the watch being too complicated to operate were soon put to rest when the watch actually directed me on the set up of time, date, height, weight, and age. The heart rate monitor is equally easy to use, although you do have to wear a chest strap. It’s a little hard to find room for a sports bra and a chest strap!
I used the monitor for the first time today on my run/walk. The watch figures out your heart rate range based on the factors entered, or you can do a series of fitness tests while wearing the monitor to determine your personal ranges. You can also choose to exercise at low, moderate, or high heart rate ranges. I chose to go with the automatic setting on moderate. The watch beeps when your heart rate gets too low or too high for the chosen range.
Even though wearing the chest strap is a bit of a pain, the heart rate monitor did help me to increase my intensity. I decided to run until my heart rate was at the maximum end of the range and then walk until I recovered. With this strategy, I should eventually increase my cardiovascular strength to run for longer periods of time within the proper range. I also noticed that I shaved about 5 minutes off of my usual time.
If you have been looking for a way to monitor your progress, increase your intensity, or beat boredom, consider investing in a heart rate monitor.