Saturday Study Recap – Measuring Your Resting Heart Rate

It’s Saturday again.  This weeks overall studies have primarily been about building rapport with clients, and giving them proper health assessments before beginning an exercise program with them.  While I can’t stress the importance of a person’s health being adequately assessed before they begin a workout program enough, it didn’t necessarily seem like an appropriate post to share, as most of my readers are not trainer’s themselves.  Though, I will say to all of you, should you choose to train with a personal trainer, you should be very concerned if they do not do some sort of health assessment before they begin training you.

In my studies, it also covered how to check your resting heart rate.  Because I think it is so important to be aware of your resting heart rate, I thought I’d cover that.  Your resting heart rate is taken when you’re laying down, calm, and your heart is pumping the least amount of blood.  A person’s resting heart rate is typically between 40 and 100 beats per minute.  A lower resting heart rate, one that is between 40 and 60 beats per minute is a sign of health and fitness.  A higher resting heart rate, one that is closer to 100 beats per minute, or even higher, can be a sign of increased risk for heart attack, predisposition to diabetes, and obesity.  Typically, people who work out have a resting heart rate between 40 and 60.  Those who are less active are usually between 60 and 100.

Ok, so how do you check it?  Let me tell you!  It’s super easy.

• Check it first thing in the morning, after a good night’s rest.
• Find your pulse.
• Place 2 fingers on it (don’t use your thumb) with light pressure.
• Using a timer, count the beats for 30 seconds.
• Multiply the number by 2.

I challenge you, the morning after reading this post, to check your resting heart rate.

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