Using a Heart Rate MonitorVS Training at the intensity that feels right

Hi all,

I used to be a pro tennis player and since i quit I have done less and less excercise. I still would consider myself in decent shape and frequently go to the gym, but not to the same levels I used to when I was a full time sportsman.


I am now training harder and harder and I thought a polar heart rate monitor would be a decent investment to aid training.

I have an athletic build but at the moment I weigh 90kg - 5ft 11. My ideal weight is 83kg - when i get down to this i am around 12-13% body fat.

For an effective training session on paper you want to be at 75% heart rate for a decent period, however using the accurate heart rate monitor when I get to this heart rate I feel like I am not actually pushing my body that hard. My assumption is that my body is working harder than I realise because I am 90kg. My question is therefore should I acccept that my heart rate is 75-80% running at a comfortable pace and keep training at that level until my heart rate drops or should I train at the level I normally would if I didn't have a heart rate monitor telling me when I reach my ideal heart rate.

The issue is that when I train at what feels normal, the heart rate monitor is suggesting i am training anaerobically which I dont want to do for obvious reasons.


Hope that is clear, thanks in advance
 
How have you calculated your target heartrates?
 
How have you calculated your target heartrates?


My resting heart rate is 51.

Calculation is based the usual calculations based on age. Regardless, all of the methods kick out a maximum heart rate of 195 ish. I have just applied the usual rules that 80% max is ideal blend of fat burning and fitness increase.


I also use the polar beat app to give me a rough idea of what zones i am training in....
 
70% is considered the best rate for overal calorie consumption (both during and after exercise).

Have you tried doing and OBLA test as that is more likely to give you your actual level?
 
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