Monday, 14 October 2013

Target Zones




You can use your maximum heart rate (MHR) to calculate how hard you should work your heart to develop either aerobic or anaerobic fitness.
To calculate MHR:
  • 220 - age = MHR
male and female ballet dancers
Improve aerobic fitness by working at 60-80% of MHR
Aerobic fitness is another way of describing cardiovascular fitness, or stamina. You can improve aerobic fitness by working in your aerobic target zone. This is found between 60-85% of your MHR. You cross your aerobic threshold, the heart rate above which you gain aerobic fitness, at 60% of our MHR.

You can improve your anaerobic fitness, which includes strength and power, by working in your anaerobic target zone. This is found between 80-100% of your MHR. Anaerobic threshold is the heart rate above which you gain anaerobic fitness. You cross your anaerobic threshold at 80% of your MHR. 

Below 60% MHR you do not improve your aerobic or anaerobic fitness at all.


The graph below shows the different target zones and how they decrease with age:


Watch the video for a short tutorial on target zones:




Watch this video for another explanation. Note that the percentage of maximum heart rate varies in the second video:



Now work out your maximum heart rate and training zones for the different types of exercise. Don't worry, you can use this online calculator to work it out for you:

http://www.shapesense.com/fitness-exercise/calculators/target-heart-rate-calculator.aspx

Post these details on your latest 'Target Zone' blog entry. Also, find a graph which shows the different target zones and embed it in your blog.



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