target heart-rate
The formula for maximum heart-race (for men) is 220 minus your age. 220 - 62 = 158.
THR is 80% of that: 126.4 (or 126).
Only one machine at the PT-gym has a heart-rate monitor: the recumbent bicycle. Three figures are on it: 65% (“weight-loss”) and THR (“80% target heart-rate”). The third display is your heart-rate as measured by the pulse in your palms.
I usually do the recumbent last, and start out at 120-125 or so; and usually get up to 130 or so after 7-8 minutes. The game is to hold it at 130 or over until the end — maybe 132. I do 15 minutes.
Today (Wednesday, September 13) I felt a little stronger — less tired. I got it up to 140 after 10-12 minutes, and after about 13 minutes started to kick. The machine also displays watts generated, and I know from experience 120 beats-per-minute requires 110 watts or so, 130 beats-per-minute requires 120 watts or so, and 140 beats-per-minute requires 130 watts or so.
Since I was able, I pushed harder, and my heart-rate crossed 147 as I ended.
“So how’d you do?” the PT asked.
“80% THR is 126; I got 147.”
Her jaw dropped. “I don’t want you to have a heart-attack. 126 or so. 147 is nuts!”
The display-label is deceptive. To me “80% target heart-rate” is 80% of the target heart-rate. So I figured the THR was higher. (It needs a colon or parentheses.)
But THR is 126; 80% of the maximum.
“Next time, cool it. I don’t want to have to call 9-1-1.”
Ho-hum, I thought. No pain, no stars. It ain’t like I do 147 all the time. Perhaps one day a week I might be able to exceed 132. 147 was only for about 20 seconds. 140+ about three minutes.
What I go by is pain or stars. If I had been seeing stars at 147 I would have stopped.
My response is fiddle-de-dee. If I can wick it up to over 132, without pain or stars, that’s beneficial. So why not?
Seven months ago, when I started, I could hardly get past 120. I’ve worked up to what I’m doing over time.
The two other aerobic machines without heart-rate monitors, the step-machine and the treadmill, I’m probably getting over 132. My goal is 400 calories on the treadmill, and 160 or so on the recumbent — today was 158. (The electronics on the step-machine ain’t working, so I count 250 steps.)
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