Is My Heart Rate a Bit too Fast?

[Primal]

Hey everybody! So, gains are going good in the gym, but I really wonder sometimes if I'm going maybe a bit too hard? I know I pale in comparison to what my intensity is to yours. But sometimes after a set, or a dropset my heart is beating so fast that it gets hard to breathe for a bit. I get that 'closed up airway' feel and I sweat buckets whenever I get to this state (don't worry I always bring towel). So today I got the idea to finding my max heart rate and how close I am to it.

So... My resting heart rate for today was about 43 bpm.
Max heart rate: 220-18(my age)= 202 bpm
Heart rate reserve: 202-43= 159 bpm

So, with this in mind, let's say I had a bad day at the gym and only gave 75%.
159x(0.75) + 43= 162.25 bpm

On a good day, lets say 92% (just ballparkin' it):
159x(0.92) + 43= 189.28 bmp

After one of my heavier sets today I checked my heart rate (index and middle on the cartid artery) and I hit 194-195ish (the radio was on and I lost track at the last few seconds).
What do you guys think? Am I not training hard enough or am I overdoing? Or am I at a good level? Please keep in mind that I stay around this heart rate for the whole time I am training (about an hour, give or take 15 mins depending).

Thanks a lot! :D

-Primal

[cog]

Hey everybody! So, gains are going good in the gym, but I really wonder sometimes if I'm going maybe a bit too hard? I know I pale in comparison to what my intensity is to yours. But sometimes after a set, or a dropset my heart is beating so fast that it gets hard to breathe for a bit. I get that 'closed up airway' feel and I sweat buckets whenever I get to this state (don't worry I always bring towel). So today I got the idea to finding my max heart rate and how close I am to it.

So... My resting heart rate for today was about 43 bpm.
Max heart rate: 220-18(my age)= 202 bpm
Heart rate reserve: 202-43= 159 bpm

So, with this in mind, let's say I had a bad day at the gym and only gave 75%.
159x(0.75) + 43= 162.25 bpm

On a good day, lets say 92% (just ballparkin' it):
159x(0.92) + 43= 189.28 bmp

After one of my heavier sets today I checked my heart rate (index and middle on the cartid artery) and I hit 194-195ish (the radio was on and I lost track at the last few seconds).
What do you guys think? Am I not training hard enough or am I overdoing? Or am I at a good level? Please keep in mind that I stay around this heart rate for the whole time I am training (about an hour, give or take 15 mins depending).

Thanks a lot! :D

-Primal

I've hit 202 at close to 40,you won't die,was that after a squat set?Your heart should be able to come down to say 120 bpm. What is your resting rate first thing in the morning?

[Praetorian]

Just make sure you let it drop between sets so your training continues to be anaerobic and aerobic. The idea is to utilize each set to its maximum which means if you are still breathing hard you need to wait to allow you to utilize maximum strength.
P

[Primal]

Just make sure you let it drop between sets so your training continues to be anaerobic and aerobic. The idea is to utilize each set to its maximum which means if you are still breathing hard you need to wait to allow you to utilize maximum strength.
P

Oh ok! So is it ok then if my resting between sets is untimed? Usually people say to have a rule, like one minute between each set sort of thing. If it's past my resting limit and I'm still breathing pretty heavy do you think I should wait till it slows down or get going? Which would you say is more important.

Also @cog, my resting heart rate was 43 bpm in the morning. I took it about an hour after I got up. Probably should have stated that. Thanks cog, glad to know I won't die if I ever get to the 200's although I would certainly hope that I can return to homeostasis normally after without having anything injured... No, I was hitting deadlifts. Although I am sure I get to the same heart rate while doing squats or the leg press as well.

Thanks!

-Primal

[cog]

43 sounds low if you aren't a serious distance runner.A heart rate monitor is better.

[cog]

43 sounds low if you aren't a serious distance runner.A heart rate monitor is accurate.Myriam Bedard the retired biathlon had a max above 220.

[Praetorian]

You never train by the clock...you rest until your breathing is close to normal and then hit the next set. Training is not a race...you are NOT doing aerobics...you train to build muscle and get strong and that will not happen if you are circuit training...using one minute rests etc.

P

[Primal]

You never train by the clock...you rest until your breathing is close to normal and then hit the next set. Training is not a race...you are NOT doing aerobics...you train to build muscle and get strong and that will not happen if you are circuit training...using one minute rests etc.

P

Good to know, thanks Prae!

@ cog I don't quite know what you are getting at... Isn't it better to have a heart rate that is lower? I looked up the standard heart rates for my age group and it said they ranged anywhere from 50-90.

-Primal

[cog]

Good to know, thanks Prae!

@ cog I don't quite know what you are getting at... Isn't it better to have a heart rate that is lower? I looked up the standard heart rates for my age group and it said they ranged anywhere from 50-90.

-Primal

43 is good but is it correct?Are you using a monitor or your finger?As Prae said,your breath should get down to comfortable,I never measure time.Time is for cross fitters to brag about.

[IronRobi]

I think you're overthinking it. You can't measure your intensity of your workout by the % of your max heart rate you reach. It just doesn't work that way.

What cog is trying to say, is that a low 40s heart rate is rarely seen unless you are a distance runner, triathlete, etc... Highly trained endurance athletes. If this is the case, it is also very unlikely your heart rate will elevate to 195 for an hour and 15 minute period during resistance training.... If you are using your fingers on your wrist to check your heart rate, it is likely not accurate and you should get a heart monitor to get a better idea what your true resting heart rate may be. 195 is over 3 beats/second. I don't think any of us can accurately count that fast.

[Primal]

I think you're overthinking it. You can't measure your intensity of your workout by the % of your max heart rate you reach. It just doesn't work that way.

What cog is trying to say, is that a low 40s heart rate is rarely seen unless you are a distance runner, triathlete, etc... Highly trained endurance athletes. If this is the case, it is also very unlikely your heart rate will elevate to 195 for an hour and 15 minute period during resistance training.... If you are using your fingers on your wrist to check your heart rate, it is likely not accurate and you should get a heart monitor to get a better idea what your true resting heart rate may be. 195 is over 3 beats/second. I don't think any of us can accurately count that fast.


Oh, yes I see what you mean now cog. Yes back a few years ago I used to be a runner for about 3 years. I used to train the whole year for the 10k and on the year I stopped I ended up doing the half marathon. I'm not sure or not if this has anything to do with my resting heart rate but could explain it a bit.

@IronRobi Yeah, my pulse was going crazy! It was going incredibly fast so it is possible that I could have skipped some beats and added on a few without thinking about it. Plus the radio was on so that adds even more to the human error of the situation. My dad has a heart rate monitor watch so I'll see if I can borrow that and try again the next time. Thanks!

-Primal