Polar Heart Rate Monitors

So, I've been doing a ton of research on Periodization training amongst other things. Periodization training goes something like - off season, base training, build phase, pre-competition, competition.

In the simplest of terms: the key to losing "fat" weight is to train at a lower heart rate in base training. Once your heart rate goes over the aerobic threshhold your body requires carbohydrates to fuel you- which makes you crave more carbs rather than teaching your body to use the fat in your body for energy. A no brainer right?


(Not the best graph but you can get the ideal concept from it.)

My last heart rate monitor was a hand me down that wouldn't hold a battery charge. So, I did a ton of research to see what my next purchase should be. Polar was the big winner!

They seem to be at the top of the pack in trying to monitor all three sports of swimming, biking, and running at a comprehensive level while still being user friendly.

I bought the Polar RCX5. So when I'm trying to measure my outputs during a run and I want to know my mph, heart rate, distance, heart rate zones, calories burned etc. I can check it all on my watch. If I want to change the views of data all I have to do is wave the watch by my heart rate transmitter. Easy peasy! Also, they have made it very easy to switch between the different sports- no crazy button pushing there.


I'm still researching a ton on running plans, swimming plans, biking plans, and nutrition. But I'm happy to say my first big buy is marked off the list (Polar). I think I'll be pretty happy with it.

Now to buy a carbon bike. Stay tuned.

Oh a relaxing weekend...

The weekend prior to this was the first weekend that we didn't have anything planned on our calendars since the first week of June. So needless to say the weekend prior to this one... we did a bunch of cleaning and errands.

So this past weekend was nice. Pete went out and had a boys night without me so that I could watch Grey's Anatomy without catching any grief. (Fellow watchers... it's been a weird season so far huh?) Then we did a day of garage work and went out to eat with friends. Yesterday I went to the LA County Fair, which doesn't quite live up to the NC Fair memories of my childhood but it did have wine tasting. SO that was a plus. Then last night we went and saw Contagion.

Holy cow, I personally loved Contagion. I think it is exactly, exactly what would happen if a virus of that sort came about. It told a lot of human truths. My heart was definitely racing throughout it. The acting was phenomenal... but the cast was amazing so I doubted it could go wrong.

The big takeaway from it all makes me think that I should move out of this big city and go learn to be more self sufficient out in the country.

Good thing we've been taking survival classes. Did you know that yucca can be used as soap and as material to make a really strong rope? Pretty cool.