Fun Things to Do with Heart Rate Monitors!!

 Heart Rate monitors, like the one pictured above, are a great way to monitor exercise intensity, which you can learn about in our book "Fresh Off the Couch" ;-0.  But there are a couple of other things you can do with them that will show just how much your heart is the the "Tell Tale Heart"!

Put your Heart Rate Monitor on and get your heart rate showing on the watch before you sit down to a meal. Note your heart rate as you are sitting then start to eat. Can you keep your heart rate the same through out the meal? When you put something in your mouth does your heart rate go up? You might be surprised how stressful eating can be!

Next try wearing your heart rate monitor to work. This can be useful in several ways. First it can help to remind you to get up regularly and move around. A study out of Australia showed that continuous sitting all by itself could lead to major health problems.  By getting up and raising your heart rate for even 5 minutes you help your body and boost circulation to your brain.
Next you can use it as a great stress meter. Are there situations where you notice your heart rate goes up without moving around? Does it go up throughout the day without going back down? One person we know wore hers to work and was checking it when people surrounded her wanting something. Her heart rate didn't seem too much affected but her coworkers quickly backed off when they saw her looking at it!!!
Don't have a heart rate monitor?? Just scroll down on our blog and click on Heart Zones they offer a great heart rate monitor at a great price!!

Stay posted for more fun...With Heart!-CK