Measure your resting heart rate so that you have a baseline. With a good fitness program in place, you should see your resting pulse rate numbers improve. Your goal is to get your resting heart rate (or pulse rate) into the "fit" category as soon as you can.

It is also very important that you find your target heart rate, especially in the early stages of any cardio training fitness program. This will help you to avoid training too hard.

Resting Heart Rate and Resting Pulse Rate

Besides having a baseline reading for your resting heart rate, be sure to calculate your target heart rate, especially when beginning a cardio training program. Click here to calculate your target heart rate.

The graph below shows resting heart rates (RHR), or heart beats per minute (BPM).
Locate yours by taking your pulse for one minute, or by using a good blood pressure monitor kit.

The best time to record your resting heart rate is first thing in the morning before getting out of bed.

Resting Heart Rates

Remember the importance of exercising with intensity. However, you don't want to push yourself beyond the limit you should. Otherwise, you risk injury and burnout.

Read our tips for avoiding injury while exercising.

Read our tips for dealing with exercise burnout.

We recommend that you invest in a fitness heart rate monitor (such as one you strap on) for tracking and monitoring your exercise heart rate. Fitness heart rate monitors are fairly inexpensive, and they are a good investment in your health and fitness.

Related Heart Fitness Articles:

Target Heart Rate Calculator
Find your target heart rate with this simple Target Heart Rate Calculator.

Find Your Target Heart Rate
Finding your target heart rate and monitoring the exercising heart rate is most important in the early stages of a cardio training program so as not to train too hard. Read how to find your target heart rate.

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