Taking your heart rate

On our previous posts we talked about training in your heart rate zone. So perhaps the next question would be what is the best way to take your heart rate? There are several options:

1. You can take you pulse on your wrist, also referred to as your radial pulse. To do this use your index finger and feel for you pulse on the thumb side of your opposite wrist.

2. You can take your pulse on your neck, also referred to as your carotid pulse. To do this find your adam's apple and slide your fingers over to the left or right. You should be able to feel your heart beating.

3. You can purchase a heart rate monitor. Heart rate monitors can range in price but are quite easy to use and a great tool for closely monitoring your heart rate as you work out.

So now you have found your pulse, what next? In order to determine your heart rate you need to count how many times your heart beats in one minute. It is best to have a watch with a second hand to do this. You can take your heart rate for a full minute or you can take it for 15 seconds and multiple it by four. If you are using a heart rate monitor you do not have to do any calculations as it gives you your heart rate real time.