A strapless heart rate monitor can be a useful tool for people who are exercise enthusiasts. Before starting an exercise program, individuals are urged to seek medical advice from their physicians. One reason for this is to ensure that the individual’s heart is healthy enough to take on the rigors of a new exercise routine. For people who have been couch potatoes, it’s important to start out slowly with a physical fitness regimen. There are so many physical activities to choose from that anyone can find something that they will enjoy doing. Some people love to swim, others enjoy biking, still others choose to run marathons. Even walking is an excellent exercise. Older people should not be intimidated by young athletes. After checking with their physicians, even older individuals can often begin an exercise regimen that will strengthen their muscles, the heart, and make them more physically fit. Research shows that exercise is great for the brain, too. Regular exercise can help boost mental acuity and creativity. A strapless heart rate monitor is an important tool that helps the exercising individual keep track of relevant information.
One indicator of good health is a person’s pulse rate which is calculated by determining the number of times the heart beats in one minute. The easiest way to find out one’s pulse rate is to count how many times the pulse beats in six seconds and add a zero. This is, in effect, the same as multiplying the number of beats by ten. This gives the individual the important heartbeats per minute (hereafter bpm) number. For most adults, this number should be in the 60-100 bpm range. It’s also possible to calculate the maximum bpm by deducting one’s age from 220. A strapless heart rate monitor can be used to ensure that the individual does not exercise so hard that this number is reached. In fact, experts advise that the target zone should be between 60 and 80 percent of the maximum bpm number. Anything higher than this can cause a person to enter into cardiovascular arrest or create other health problems. A physician can conduct a fitness test that provides a more exact maximum bpm and target zone.
Those who work out regularly at the gym or participate in other sports activities can use a strapless heart rate monitor to be sure that they reach the target zone. The monitor may also perform other functions. For example, some monitors count the calories that are being burned during the exercise period. Others have a time function that shows the individual how long he is staying in the target zone. Some monitors look similar to wristwatches or rings. However, enthusiasts can also purchase cardio shirts. A transmitter is attached to these special shirts and then displays the data on a compatible watch or machine (such as a treadmill). Even persistent and consistent exercise probably won’t result in having the strength of Samson. This Israelite judge is still famed for his great strength. Scripture says: “And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an hill that is before Hebron” (Judges 16:3). But persistent and consistent exercise, monitored with a strapless heart rate monitor, will result in physical fitness and a healthier body.
Individuals who don’t want to purchase cardio shirts can purchase strapless models that can be clipped to their workout clothing. Some monitors have a detachable strap. Comfortable chest straps can be used to keep the monitor in place against the heart. This usually provides the best result. However, many people don’t like the bulkiness of chest straps and find them uncomfortable. This accounts for the rise in popularity of the strapless heart rate monitor. As with most consumer products, not all monitors are created equal. Prospective purchasers should know that there is often a delay of several seconds before data appears on the screen (whether the screen in imbedded in a watch, a ring, or on some other type of machine). In comparisons with more traditional monitors, it’s been found that some monitors provide inaccurate readings. This isn’t very helpful when it’s important to know if one is in the target zone.
Some athletes find that a strapless heart rate monitor isn’t safe for them to use. For example, if a biker has a monitor on her wrist (the watch) or her finger (the ring), she has to take one hand off the handlebars to read the display. This can slow her pace which lowers her bmp. Her attention is taken away from her bicycling and focused on the display. Runners have complained that the monitors don’t come with backlights. This makes the screens impossible to read at night. Several websites provide reviews of different models for consumers. These will provide comparisons based on such factors as time delay, accuracy, and safety. Prospective purchasers are well advised to read the reviews and evaluate the comparisons before making a purchase. Not everyone who exercises needs a strapless heart rate monitor. But those who are concerned about staying in a target zone for a sustained period of time, for staying away from their maximum bpm rate, or who are serious athletes may find the monitor to be a helpful tool.