The heart is an amazing organ, and when you use it to monitor and gauge your workout it can have an incredible impact on your fitness and health. That is why they are so popular on fitness equipment.

Heart rate control and heart rate monitors became popular in the mid-90s. It is standard on many exercise machines including elliptical trainers, treadmills, and stationary bikes. A treadmill with a "heart rate monitor” only reads your heart rate by connecting with sensors on the siderails. In contrast, "heart rate control” dictates the extent of your workout by controlling the exertion level of your treadmill. Your heart tells the machine when to increase or decrease your cardio workout.

Why Heart Rate Control!

To get an optimum workout it is important to pace your exercise and be in the right "zone.” That means getting your heart rate at the proper intensity level for an extended period of time. If your heart rate gets too high your activity can become counter productive, if it is too low you're missing out on any substantial health benefits.

That is why one of the most effective methods for fitness training is through monitoring and controlling your heart rate. This is particularly true when striving for cardiovascular goals. Whether you want to shed a few pounds, train for a marathon, or just feel good about yourself, heart rate training and control can optimize your workout. Getting in the Zone

Sally Edwards, author of "Heart Rate Training" discusses the value of heart zone training. "It works for 20-year old athletes as well as 70-year olds with heart trouble. The goal is to get into a particular zone.”

She identifies 5 zones ranging from:

The Healthy Heart Zone: 50% - 60% of your individual maximum heart rate. This is a safe, comfortable zone reached by and easy walk. This is the best zone for people who are just starting to exercise. This zone has been shown to help decrease body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol. The Temperate Zone: 60% - 70% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone provides the same benefits as the healthy heart zone, but is more intense and burns more total calories. Achieved through a faster walking speed or a slow jog.

The Aerobic Zone: 70% - 80% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone will improve your cardiovascular and respiratory system and increase the size and strength of your heart. Achieved through a steady jog.

The Anaerobic Threshold Zone: 80% - 90% of your individual maximum heart rate. . This is a high intensity zone is achieved through a "burning" run.

The Redline Zone: 90% - 100% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone is the equivalent of running full out, and is often used in "interval" training. This zone should be approached with caution and can lead to injuries when sustained for a long period.

Edwards suggests after determinin

g your maximum heart rate you can improve your fitness by exercising in several different zones. You alternate in those zones to increase your cardiovascular fitness, and vary your exercise regimen. You can view the entire article at http://www.howtobefit.com/trn5zone.htm.

There are two types of heart rate controls, handgrip and wireless. Treadmills with handgrip heart rate control require holding on to the sensors located on the siderails. It is awkward for walking, and just not feasible for jogging. There is only one type of Heart rate control that makes sense, and that is wireless.

With wireless control you attach a strap around your chest, and your heart rate is fed to the console. This in turn controls the intensity of your workout by keeping your cardio exercise within a predetermined heart rate.

Depending on the model, you can either have the heart rate control maintain a consistent and targeted heart rate, or you can also set it for interval heart rates, training in different zones. You can program the treadmill for desired workouts that vary the heart rate to your desired goals.

The programs available with heart rate control can vary. Some treadmills come with just one heart rate program, while high-end models can have a variety of programs like hill training, intervals and extreme heart rate.

When losing weight and improving your cardiovascular health, it all comes down to your heart rate. Monitoring your heart and working out within zones will enhance your overall health and physical performance. If you are going to invest in quality fitness equipment you should consider the heart rate control feature. It takes the guesswork out of exercising.

In a sense, heart rate control becomes your personal trainer. By monitoring your heart rate and adjusting your workout accordingly, you stay within your desired goal, and avoid over or under exerting yourself. It takes your treadmill workout to an optimum level.

It is important before you begin any new exercise program to consult your physician first. They can assist you in determining a safe and healthy heart rate zone for you to initially maintain. If you are currently out of shape you want to ease your body back into a regular exercise routine. Once again, a heart rate monitor and control is ideal to get started.

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