Train Smarter, Train Effeciently, Train with a Heart Rate Monitor

Work smarter, not harder. Your time training matters, that's why I ask my clients to purchase a Heart Rate Monitor before they start training with me. It's such a great tool to have and it only makes reaching your fitness goals a lot easier! Monitoring your heart rate helps your trainer (and you) see where you're at in calorie burn, heat rate zones and recovery.

Screen Shot Polar's H7 Monitor
On iPhone App using Bluetooth

I recommend Polar Heart Rate Monitors, as they're the industry standard and I love mine; essentially what it does is track your calories burned, and where your calories are coming from (ex. % fat), it also keeps track of which heart rate zone you're in which is probably the most important feature of HR monitor. Reason for this being that if you're in a high-end zone for an extended period of time you're going to overstress your body, and when you overstress your body progression towards getting the body you want halts; it would be like redlining your car for an extended period of time, it's not good for your engine. At the same time keeping track of the zones comes in handy because it also allows you or your trainer to see if you're under working, and lets you know that you have to push yourself a little harder to bump up into the next zone.

The Polar HR Monitors also have another important feature which is the V02 Max Estimate Test, which not only further increase the monitors accuracy depending on your fitness level, age, and health. The way I put it to my clients is that without a Heart Rate Monitor you are essentially training in the dark, think of your body like a car... A car has all kinds of gauges, and indicators, you know how fast you're going, what your rpms are, how much gas you're burning, the temperature of your engine and so much more right? Well what do we have for your body like that? Nothing, unless you get a Heart Rate Monitor!

No Watch Necessary with Polar's H7

I have the Polar FT60 and recommend that to all of my clients.  I do have a few other clients using the Polar H7. Instead of a watch, the H7 transmits all the information to your smart phone (or Bluetooth ready device) that provides ECG-accurate heart rate, calories, zones, etc. It is a very easy way to see your diary, workout summary and reports on your phone.  H7 is Compatible with iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (5th generation), iPad (3rd & 4th generation), iPad mini and iPod Nano (7th generation).  Also uses Gym Link to connect with the majority of Polar heart rate monitors on the market and with compatible gym equipment