heart rate / cardio question

Chump Change · 03-15-2004, 12:14 PM

Hey guys I have a cardio question. I have been doing that eliptical machine for the past 6 months and have sucessfully lost 30 pounds(changed my died as well). I always put the eliptical machine in cardio mode where you enter your age and weight. From this data I guess the machine calculates a max heart rate and takes 80% as your targeted heart rate.

This has been working very nice but lately its not. For the first 5-10 minutes its the same, more or less a warm up session. After the warm up it adjust the level or resistance to get to your max heart rate.

My problem is that its hard for me to reach my target heart rate. After the warm up session I end up on one of the max levels and it feels like a weight lifting seesion for my legs. My back was kind of hurting the other day too and it usually doesnt.

My question is should I just put the machine in manual and just find a good speed? Vary my routine and get a new machine(I dont really like this one)? Focus harder on getting my heart rate up?

BTW i'm 23 and do a cardio work out around 4-6 times a week for about 45 mins(inclues warm up and cool down).

Thanks

mimo · 03-15-2004, 12:52 PM

i advise you to look into hiit and switch between hiit and moderate intensity cardio for 3-4 times hiit and the rest of your workouts would be moderate

mimo · 03-15-2004, 12:53 PM

switch the machine to manual mode. noone knows better what is intense than yourself

BullGod · 03-15-2004, 04:06 PM

you may want to check out other forms of cardio as well...I know that it is harder for me to get my HR up on the bike as it is on the stairclimber.......If you are concerned about getting your HR up you may have to try some other form....

you may also look into a HR monitor...and use that and ignore the functions on the machine...nice thing is that with the chest transmitter..many of the machines will pick up the signal and display it on their display. I also munipulate the zone setting by plugging in a different age....the zone it has for my age 37 is lower than what I would like so I put in 18yo to adjust to a higher zone......

Dj Ron · 03-16-2004, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mimo
switch the machine to manual mode. noone knows better what is intense than yourself

Bump

euclid · 03-16-2004, 05:43 AM

80% of MHR for 45 minutes seems a bit much if you ask me. I'm 24, 174lbs, 5'9" and also do elliptical cardio work. I have a polar chest strap and try to keep myself in the 63-67% MHR zone for my 3 sessions of 45 minutes.

I also do HIIT 3 times a week for 23 minutes.

So far, with the help of lifting weights and a healthy diet I have lost 22 pounds (since Jan 2, 2004).