Welcome to the December 2003 edition of The Heart Zones e-Newsletter
copyright: Heart Zones, your source of heart rate training information

1. Test Yourself for Heart Health
2. Holiday Gift Help
3. New Certification and Workshop for 2004
4. Technology and Heart Rate
   
   also...
   
5. Challenge: What's Your Average Heart Rate during Your Day?
6. Technology and knowledge
7. American Council on Exercise (ACE) Survey of Holiday Presents

Researchers recently reported that simple heart rate monitored exercise testing that you can perform on yourself can be used to predict the risk of cardiac-related death. Reported in the September 3rd issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation reported that those whose heart rates remain elevated after a standard stress test are more than twice as likely to die within the next 6 years as those whose heart rates drop to normal. It is important to use a heart rate monitor to perform this test rather than manual palpation because accuracy is important. "Normal" is defined as a drop of more than 12 bpm during the first minute immediately after strenuous exercise.

The season of gift giving can be overwhelming and well, yes, expensive, too. And certainly gifts of fitness equipment can be tricky to select. Unless you regularly exercise with the gift recipient, you can't know intimate details about his or her preferences or even if the item actually works as they claim. Heart Zones would like to help with a few suggestions. (Note: And, if you buy $59 or more we have a free gift for you: a durable jet black gear bag with a wet pocket and outside zipper.) We have put the Heart Zones Training Chart on a poster, postcard and a BUFF (multi-functional headwear). Consider framing the poster for placement in their workout room, and a BUFF is always a relief to have when you are sweating through a workout. A seminar or workshop is another great invitation to the world of health and fitness.

For some, getting into a regular exercise routine is difficult due to time and work constraints so consider buying a calendar (of a sport they enjoy) and mark the calendar with events and classes that you have researched for them to engage in. Throwing in a series punch card or limited membership offering to join a health club is a great way to encourage them to be active too! Ultimately, providing a circle of support is key to keep you and them moving towards next year's goals. The bottom line, regardless of the type of heart rate monitor, the piece of exercise equipment or particular training program one follows, we know that understanding Heart Zones Training is fundamental and universal. The best advice: Ask questions and get a wish list. Browse our Holiday specials on heart rate monitors and other one-of-a kind items at www.heartzones.com

From the book Fit and Fat by Sally Edwards and Lorraine Brown, and together with Mary Clayton Enderlein, President, Heart Zones Health will be launching a new certification and workshop "Weight and Energy Management". The program will be unveiled in Sacramento on January 24th at the kick-off of the National Seminar Series for 2004. If you are interested in learning how to design a training program to reach your maximum fat burning potential and unlock your key to lifelong fitness - then the Weight and Energy Management program is one that you won't want to miss! To learn more about the new "Blue Vest" certification and certified trainer program, contact Mary Clayton Enderlein at maryc@endventure.com

Just as we have seen the introduction of digital cameras available with cell phones, mp3 players and pens, heart rate monitors look to be coming in different forms and for purposes other than fitness related monitoring. IBM has announced that it has developed a prototype for a heart rate monitor that has the ability to ring a mobile phone number for help. The device detects heart rates and can then dial out to a mobile phone for immediate help. The signal uses Bluetooth technology, and IBM claims this device goes beyond the heart rate devices already available. Apparently, the prototype relay device has been successfully tested. When an individual reaches a level where she or he are at risk, the device sends a message with the heart rate. IBM said similar technology could be sent to an Internet web site, for people in the business of monitoring heart rates. The device is not for sale yet, but was developed by an IBM product developer, with much of the work undertaken at its research labs in Zurich. It runs on a standard AAA battery, includes the chest strap RF receiver, Bluetooth transceiver, and DC to DC power control, to send the heart rate info to a GPRS mobile phone or to a personal digital assistant (PDA).

Ever wondered how many times your heart beats while you are awake? Have you ever been curious about your average heart rate from wake-up to sleep-time? That's the challenge - to take the test. To test this out, the head heart, Sally Edwards, donned her downloadable Timex Digital 26.2 Miler the moment she awoke until the time she went to sleep. The profile for her day follows. It starts at 5:30 am with a 2 mile run-60 minute Heart Zones Cycle at the Pinkhouse Gym, breakfast, and a 2 mile run home for the first of her two workouts for her day.

Note that in the early evening she did her second workout, a 10 minute cardio followed by 10 minutes of weights repeated three times. Between the two workouts, she worked at-about-around her office in Sacramento, California. So, what is the answer to how many heart beats? Her average heart rate for the 15 hours and 47 minutes that she was awake was 91 bpm. Peak heart rate was 181 bpm (on the bike). Her maximum heart rate on the bike is 185 bpm. That means that for a 24 hour day her heart would contract 2,184 times per day which over a lifespan of 80 years equates to a total of almost 64 million contractions. Imagine how powerful the cardiac muscle is to work continuously, without a 5 second rest, for 80 years. Since the mission of Heart Zones is to help everyone take better care of their hearts, we urge you to take care of that muscle, the most important one you have.

More and more manufacturers have been developing GPS technology for different fitness platforms. They all vary in terms of their uses (speed and distance) and add on functions (heart rate, download capability). But what exactly is GPS and how does it work? I found this article extremely helpful in learning more about how the GPS satellite system works. It's interesting and fun to know especially if you are considering buying a GPS heart rate monitor unit like the Body Link System by Timex. If you are a runner, it's like having a speedometer and an odometer with you every step of the way. www.garmin.com/aboutGPS/

If you're looking for gifts to inspire, motivate or simply add fun to someone's workout, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) has some suggestions. ACE surveyed over 1,500 group fitness instructors and personal trainers to learn the best and most affordable fitness gifts of the year. Top gifts priced under $50 include: personal training consultation, heart-rate monitor, a log, and sports books. We agree with them. And, if you order $59 or more worth of merchandise from our website, you'll receive a free gear bag with an embroidered Heart Zones logo. The bag is big, has a wet pocket and outside zipper. By itself, the jet black gear bag is available for $19.95 sans purchase. www.store.yahoo.com/heartzones/acclot.html

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copyright: Heart Zones
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Phone: (916) 481-7283
Fax: (916) 481-2213
Mailing address:
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The Heart Zones e-Newsletter is a Heart Zones publication
Publisher: Sally Edwards
Editor in Chief: Jessica Menendez

PLEASE forward this e-mail to friends and colleagues who are also interested in fitness and sports training using the heart. THANK YOU!