Heart Monitor Watch

A common type of heart rate monitor is the two piece system, which includes the chest strap monitor and the watch.  These are most commonly used by people who exercise and are looking to get a heart rate reading during the exercise.  People who use heart rate monitors range from beginners to professional athletes.  Sometimes, people want to track their heart rate throughout the day to monitor their stress or anxiety levels.

The watch portion of the heart rate monitor set-up, typically displays the time and date.  It also provides the minimum and maximum heart rate at any given time.  The heart monitor watch will display the active heart rate and reference the minimum and maximum heart rate.  Most watches give an audible sound when the min or max heart rate has been hit.  So, the watch allows you to exercise in your zone.  If you hit your maximum heart rate, then you can slow down your exercise.  If you hit your minimum, then you can increase your physical activity to increase your heart rate.

The second part to your heart rate monitor set-up is the chest strap.  This part actually has the sensor that detects your heart rate and sends that information to your heart monitor watch.  The strap is worn against your skin and beneath any clothing.  It is designed to rest against your chest muscles.  When first using your heart rate monitor, you may need to play around with the strap position to get the strongest heart pulse.  Sometimes, it is helpful to dampen the backside of the monitor strap so that the monitor creates a seal against your skin.  This will help deliver a better signal to the heart monitor watch.

It is important to note that the heart rate monitor is positioned in the same place for men as it is for women.  Women should place the strap comfortably underneath their sports bras.  Men should also wrap the strap around their lower chest.

More advanced types of heart rate monitors are only one piece.  Instead of having the strap monitor, the advanced monitor only has the watch portion.  The heart monitor watch uses your hand to get the heart rate.  It is much simpler and much more comfortable in design.  Typically, a more advanced heart monitor watch will give you more information such as what percentage of your heart rate you are working out at.  It just gives you more defined and interesting statistics to measure your heart rate.  Some of these advanced heart rate monitors have a calendar function that stores your heart rate information for later reference.

Having a cardio heart rate monitor that stores your information can be very helpful in a serious workout.  After a workout, you can review the information stored in your heart monitor watch and see how you worked out.  Basically, you can find out information such as how long you worked out and how hard you worked out at various points of your routine.  This information is absolutely vital in helping you push your body and getting results from your workout.