Saturday, June 19, 2010

DAY TWELVE: Because I *heart* you AND you *rate* w/me... enter to win a HEART RATE MONITOR!

You must think I have the most horrible children in the world. And... well... there are moments that I do. But MOST of the time, my kids are pretty fun. (Not including the image on the left. This is Corbin in a mid-tantrum scream. Sweet angel.) Today we've hit the road and are visiting the Oregon coast & nothing brings the BEST out in children like a road trip... RIGHT? 

Since we were in the car all day, I didn't get to work out LIKE I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO. And I have already consumed a cup of clam chowder & some beer battered halibut. But that's another post. 

TODAY I'm giving away a Polar FS2C Heart Rate Monitor!
Monitoring your heart rate when exercising is SO FREAKING IMPORTANT. Cardio is 70-80% of maximal heart rate for your age -or- MHR. To find your own MHR, take 220, minus your age, then multiply that by .7 (for the low end) and then multiply that same number, again, by .8 to get the high number.
For example... I am 38 years old. (gasp!) So 220 - 38 = 182 x .7 = 127 (this would be the low end of where my heart rate should be) and 182 x .8 = 145. 

If I stay in the heart rate range of 127 - 145, my body is burning the calories from the food I eat. If I go over that heart rate range, I run the risk of going into anaerobic exercise WHICH MEANS... I'm burning muscle instead of burning fat. And seeing that my purpose in riding those machines for an hour each day is to lose FAT, losing muscle (which helps me BURN fat) sucks. The beauty of this is that you can exercise at a lower rate, without killing yourself at the gym & being sore the next day, and you'll lose weight and feel GREAT.
Honestly, this blog should be the best news you've had all day.

Now... IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ENTER THIS CONTEST... here's what I'd like for you to do -  - on the comments section, using the equation I posted above, please post YOUR ideal cardio heart rate range. (don't forget- your computer DOES have a calculator on it!)

* Entries for this give-away will be accepted through midnight, Pacific time, June 20th, 2010.
*Please only enter once per give-away.
*The winner will be announced on Monday's blog

THANKS for entering & I'll see YOU tomorrow!

43 comments:

Allyson Zakour said...

My heart rate is 130 low and 149 high. I love your blogs. I feel your pain with children...they are very loveable but sure do have there moments. Have a fabulous trip!!!

Kris said...

Looks like my low end would be 134 and upper as 154.
That's super cool I never knew how to calculate a target rate before. Thanks for the handy tip!
Have a super safe and fun trip!

Michelle said...

Thanks for teaching me how to calculate. I should stay between 133-152.

Beth said...

Thank you for doing the math for me, Amy. 127 - 145

Unknown said...

Between 134-153 is my ideal.

This is my first time commenting on your blog. I found you through April. I've been a reader for a long time and want to say thanks for the tips. I also appreciate your honest approach to this whole weight loss thing.

And...I'd love to have the heart rate monitor!

WrayLynn said...

Mine is between 133-152. I think I am often above this, though. Hmmm. Have fun on your trip!

Unknown said...

Mine is 119-136. I absolutley love reading your blog! You inspire me to work out!

Have a great trip!

~Kristin Lynn~ said...

AMY!! I LOOVE your blog (but you already know that! lol) What a fun contest!! I am SO glad I found you and we connected on FB! What an inspiration you are to all of us! I NEVER knew how to find my ideal heart rate, NOR did I know that it's bad to be out of that target zone!! I am going to put out MAJOR good vibes that you draw my name out of the hat, because I need something like this for my walks and in the pool! I had no idea it was SO important.

I need to stay between 129 - 148 according to your equation. I will check my pulse often in my water class today!!

Have a GREAT one!!

Kristin

Sheila Warner said...

low end is 124 - high end is 142. This is very nice of you! I'm a poet!! ;-)

Angie Wilholt said...

My heart rate is 129 low and 148 high. Thanks for the tip Amy, I didn't know how to find my heart rate before. I have wanted a heart rate monitor but they are soo expensive. This would be great for my walks and bike rides. I enjoy reading your blog. Safe travels.

Anonymous said...

Mine is 118-135 Hmmm... that seems so darn low. I guess that's what I get for getting old, eh?

Rachel Halpenny said...

wow...here's my ideal rate 152.6-174.4. this is good to know when i'm at National Fitness. Thank you for your inspiration!

Unknown said...

Amy thank you for all this information:)) very helpful. thank you for being real and open with people.
Low end my heart rate would be 197 and high end would be 226

Laurens_Closet said...

RACHEL AND CHAUNA - - RECALCULATE!!! You are both WAY too high. Are you subtracting your age??

Chanua - - you have to subtract your age from 220... Please go back and re-read the post to make sure you're being correct & SAFE!!

... I don't want you to explode ...

Amy

Melaine said...

Hi Amy,

to be real honest I have never checked my heart rate when working out I will start paying attention to this cause I know I want to burn FAT!!! Thanks for sharing & giving awy such a cool prize!!

My heart rate would be Low:129-High:148 :]

Barefoot Angel said...

Wow! Thanks for the tip. My heart rate should be 128.1 low and 146.4 high. Now I know! I could use the heart rate monitor to help me with my weight loss. *smiles* Have a great trip!

Crystal Hughes said...

Love your blogs! You keep me inspirated! Good luck.

Unknown said...

My heart rate is 126 low and 144 high. Have a great trip!

Jaime said...

130-149 is my heart rate range. Funny thing is when I first started I could only workout on the low end. Now I workout near the high end!

natioam said...

My low end is 129 and the high end is 148. I am horrible about checking this during work out, but I love the idea that I can do the low end and still lose weight. I heeart your message today!

Unknown said...

Ironically, I am also 38 years old. Low end matches yours (220 - 38 = 182 x .7 = 127) and high end (182 x .8 = 145) as well. However, do I have to take in to account that I live in the oppressive heat of South Central Louisiana?! SEND ME A POOL!

Unknown said...

I have never asked how to figure this out and now I find out that I have probably been working too hard? Urgh!

Unknown said...

oops! Forgot to post my range! It's 130 low and 149 high!

Lisa said...

124-141 .... I am bad about checking it.. because i loose count!

Barb said...

I want it to be higher...cuz I'm exercising out of my zone!!! :( 113 - 129 The Tredclimber kicks my butt!

judy said...

My rate was 122-107. I was surprised because I try to get it higher. Now I will relax a little more when I exercise and enjoy it.

judy said...

My rate was 122-107. I feel good about that because I was trying to get it higher. I can enjoy exercising a little more.

judy said...

My rate was 122-107. I feel better now because I was trying to get it higher. I can relax and enjoy exercing more.

judy said...

Wow, that Judy really screwed up with her computer...must be her age....:)

Kinder said...

I am so glad you are back! I have missed your posts!

Mine is easy, because I am 38, too! 127-145

I never knew that about the heart rate and exercise. Does it matter what your normal (resting) heart rate is, because isn't that different for each person?

Have fun in Oregon! We are going to Cannon Beach for 3 nights in July and I am so excited!

Lisé said...

I should stay between 132 and 152. Thanks for the calculation "thinking" for me. Have a great time at the coast, lovely!!

Trista said...

My low end would be 128.8, and high would be 147.2

Daniel Perriton said...

This is a good reminder. Maybe I should check my email more often :-)
My heart rate should be between 128 and 146.

bizzimommiofboyz said...

Mine should be between 133-152. Good to know, this should show how much I could use the heart rate monitor! Thanks for the great giveaway!

Your newest follower,

Nicole

Jennifer Garza said...

I'm also on the road and trying not to regain what I've taken off lately! I'm proud of myself b/c I had some cals left to burn for my weekly goal and the first thing I did after checking into the hotel was go to the gym! Could have used the heart monitor there for sure (equipment outdated...) Anyway, have a good trip I know I will!

The Mom Who Could said...

My range is 130 - 149. I haven't thought much about really measuring my heart rate...I usually estimate with the "talk test" - if I can carry on a conversation then I'm not working hard enough.

theantijared said...

Enough! Just send me a prize package and get this over with :)

Jessica said...

Mine is 136-155. Good to know! :D Thank you for that!

Cupboard Love said...

I'm 30, so my low end would be 133 and my high end would be 152. However, I usually go for maximum caloric burn and try to do intervals where my heart rate goes up to 160-170.

hotengr73 said...

Thanks for blogging, it keeps me motivated!

my calculated range is 128-146, but my VO2 test determined my range as 148-171 and my peak is 181

but the calulation is a good rule of thumb.
Deb

Anonymous said...

My ideal range is 130 - 149. I have been wishing for an hrm for a while now!

Cynthia said...

My heart rate a low of 128 to a high of 147. Thank you for having us figure this out for ourselves. It really helps us know how if we are working too hard or not working hard enough.

4D Mama said...

You know, I haven't calculated my heart rates for a while, since I lost my Polar heart rate monitor a few years ago. My low is 131 and high is 150.
When you have a heart rate monitor you see how innacurate the machines are in calories calculated. Some are way off on the high side and others way off on the low side.
So this is an awesome giveaway. Some lucky person is going to get a chance to really see how they're doing in a whole new way.
Very cool of you, Amy :)