To accurately record your , to help you measure your fitness levels as you exercise and to ensure your safety during exercise I recommend you buy yourself a , which is a watch that will measure as well as record your heart rate.

In the past using a heart rate monitor meant strapping on a monitoring box and electrode leads onto your body but now they have turned into stylish watches for men and women.

Using a heart rate monitor will help you determine whether you are working hard enough to increase your fitness levels or whether you are working too hard and need to slow down and it does that by measuring your hearts beat per minute (BPM) If you are looking to improve your aerobic fitness levels the heart rate monitor will help you structure your training so that you can work yourself gradually, building up your fitness levels as you go.

The more advanced models will let you know when you are running at your target pace to lose weight and get fit.The easiest way to choose an appropriate heart rate monitor for you will be to look at the different functions each watch provides and decide how much or how little you really need.

The more costly a watch the more functions you get to play with and the latest watches will include GPS technology that will give you a very detailed statistical reading on your fitness performance including measuring your speed and distance.



These monitors will let you calculate the number of calories burned, the length of your exercise routine and the length of time you have spent in and/or above your set heart rate zone.



As well as including everything in the basic model they will also include a countdown timer, will let you count the individual laps that you do during exercise, they may have an alarm that will let you when you are working outside of your fitness level and will give you more immediate feedback about your workout.

will cost you over £200 and are very sophisticated.

They will let you download your data from the monitor onto your computer so that you can do more detailed analysis, you will be able to program in more detailed fitness routines on multiple timers so that you can perform different exercises at different intervals. This kind of heart rate monitor really isn't necessary unless you are training for the marathon!


After buying your monitor the first thing you need to focus on is working out your target heart rate and checking to see just how fit or unfit you are right now. The instructions will tell you how to work that and the charge below (information purposes only) will give you an idea of what your target heart rate should be.

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Once the watch is set up it will help you stick to training within your limits and as your fitness level improves you will be able to push yourself harder but always within safe boundaries. The intermediate level heart rate monitor is more than adequate for anyone just getting started and looking for something to keep them safe and to ensure you do not over do it!

The alarm is the function that will really help you start focused and so for that reason I recommend you spending a little bit more than you would on a basic model to get a better type of monitor.
Heart rate monitors are an excellent addition to your fitness regime that I definitely recommend. The motivation that will come from being able to measure your fitness levels will go a long way to keeping you on the right path towards being healthy and fit.

After buying your watch bring it along to my where I will help you work out for 60 minutes – I invite you to try it out for free first.  Call me Anne on the number below to register