When performing your cardio workout, it’s important to pay attention to your heart rate, but not imperative. Heart rate can be affected if you do not get enough sleep the night before, have poor nutrition or hydration or are on a blood pressure medication. Usually, cardio machines display your heart rate as you work out and show a standard zone you should be training within. This equation is 220-age=maximum heart rate (in beats per minute). Training zones are usually 65%-85% of your maximum heart rate. This is only a standard equation. The error margin is 12 beats per minute and can be greater if you are in great shape. At your next cardio session, first focus on how you feel. Are you working hard? Breathing hard? Working up a sweat? The main thing is to challenge your body and pay attention to how you feel. Then take a look at the heart rate as a secondary source.

Provided by Kayla Johnson, owner of Top Notch Training. Kayla is a certified personal trainer that provides one-on-one training in your home or office.