Polar Vantage XL Heart Rate Monitor

"The main purpose of any cardiovascular fitness program is to increase the body's ability to utilize oxygen.  To increase cardiovascular fitness you must engage in exercises that involve movements of the large muscles of the body.  You must be able to maintain these exercises continuously for at least 15 to 30 minutes.  Such exercises are called aerobic, since the working muscles continue to receive as much oxygen as they need.  Brisk walking or jogging are activities that would meet the above requirements."

With this in mind, we are now offering the opportunity to monitor your heart rate duringthe time you are in the fitness center.  While exercising you can wear a Polar Heart Rate Monitor To see and hear your actual heart rate during your workout.  By wearing the Watch and Transmitter, a staff member can monitor as well as produce a graph that shows you exactly what your heart rate during circuit weight training and during any cardiovascular work, example 15 minutes on a treadmill, stationary bikeor stepper.  This feedback provides you, and the Personal Trainer On duty, with the data necessary to intrepret your workout.  Are you exercising safely, or are going beyond your "target heart rate" with the intention of making up for lack of physical activity for months or even years?
The wellness program at the Plainfield Fitness Center is an excellent opportunity for adults in our community to improve their fitness and the Polar Heart Monitor allows you do it safely!
If you would like to wear a heart rate monitor during your personal workout, please ask an instructor to get you started and later produce a graph and intrepretation of your workout.
By looking at the South wall in the fitness Center, by the back machine, you can see your own target heart rate zone.  The watch will "beep" when your goes below the low number and also "beep" when you are above your high number, example a 40 year old person would be 126-153.  (70%-85%).  This would be for a member who exercises regularly, 3-4 times a week.  A new member, who has not been exercising regularly, will use 108-126 (60%-70%) as their range.