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Your resting heart rate can clue you in to what’s going right – and wrong – with your body.
Most fitness trackers have embedded heart-rate monitors – great for boosting motivation in the gym! But knowing your resting heart rate – how fast your ticker tocks when you’re inactive – can be just as useful for maxing out your training.
There are three changes you need to take note of that’ll clue you in to the state of your health.
Take note of these resting heart rate shifts:
1. Through the day
Random spikes are warning signs: stress, dehydration, the start of a cold. Focus on solid sleep, nutrition and water intake. (And if the numbers don’t even out after two days, see your doc.)
2. In your sleep
Check your pulse from last night: if your HR rose by 15 bpm or more several times, you’re likely not logging quality Zs, which spells trouble for recovering muscles. Prioritise dynamic rest, like slow yoga.
3. Over a few weeks
HR dropping a month into a new routine? Yay! Being fitter means your heart doesn’t work as hard to pump blood to the rest of your body – so, the slower beat. Numbers not budging? Step it up.
Here are four more ways your fitness tracker can take your workout to the next level. Ready to take your fitness and weight loss to the next level? Sign up for Women’s Health’s expert-approved, 12-week Lean Body Blitz plan today!
