POLAR Heart Monitors

The Polar Company’s greatest strength is their incredible variety. With over thirty models in their line-up, Polar has specialized heart monitors for running, cycling, cross training, and team sports. The Polar Heart Monitors range in price from just a basic heart rate monitor for $70 (£50) to a high advanced, full-featured model for almost  $700 (£500)that includes a GPS tracking system, training software, and wireless connection to your laptop. For athletes on a limited budget, however, Polar offers at least half a dozen heart rate monitors for under  $150 (£100).

NIKE Heart Rate Monitor

Not surprisingly, the greatest strength of a Nike heart rate monitor is fashion. Although offering only ten models, their heart monitor watches come in a variety of hip styles and colors. Nike is one of the few companies that offer heart rate monitors specifically designed for women—smaller, slimmer, and sleeker than the big and bulky heart monitor watches usually designed for men. Nike's low-end heart monitors are about on par with the competition, offering a basic monitor for  $70 (£50). Their high-end monitors, however, don't offer as much functionality as their competitors, but are also less expensive, topping out at around  $250 (£175).

GARMIN Heart Rate Monitor

With only about five models, the Garmin Company’s heart monitor lineup does not offer a lot of variety. Garmin does, however, offer some of the best low-end heart rate monitors available. Although the least expensive Garmin heart rate monitor is still priced high than their competition—$100 (£70) compared to  $70 (£50)—they offer many more features. Even the most basic Garmin heart monitor includes speed sensors, interval training, training software, records and saves up to 100 previous workouts, synchronizes with your laptop or PC, and give you alarms when you fall out of your target heart rate zone. If you're shopping for a quality heart rate monitor on a limited budget, check out Garmin.

TIMEX Heart Rate Monitor

Despite having less than ten models available in their lineup, Timex offers good pricing and a nice steady progression of cost and features. Timex's basic, no-frills heart rate monitor retails at a low $55 (£39). At each additional price bracket, more features are available, up to a complete training program that sync through wireless connection with your laptop for $250 (£175). Seven of their ten models, however, are available for less than  $110(£80). The Timex heart rate monitor range is also very fashion conscious, offering a variety of styles and colors. While Nike's lineup favors the young athlete, however, Timex targets the middle-income, middle-class, middle-aged professional market.

SUUNTO Heart Rate Monitor

Like Polar, the Finnish company Suunto specializes in heart rate monitors. Consequently, they have over a dozen models for running, biking, swimming, and team sports. Their basic, low-end heart monitor costs slightly more than Polar's basic model, but offers more features, including a calorie counter and workout memory. From there, however, the Suunto heart rate monitor prices climb quickly, topping out at  $400(£280) for their high-end, fully featured model complete with PC/Laptop training software and customizable display screens. Unlike Polar, Suunto offers many of their heart monitor models in versions specifically designed for women. If you are a woman seeking the detail and power of a Polar heart monitor, but prefer one more comfortable and flattering to wear, try Suunto first.

OMRON Heart Rate Monitor

Omron provides a different kind of heart rate monitor. So far, all companies described above are sport & fitness oriented, producing heart rate monitors marketed mostly for young athletes. Omron, on the other hand, is a medical company producing equipment for both professional medical equipment and home use. They offer a wide range of wrist and upper-arm blood pressure monitors, electrocardiograph (ECG) sensors, step counters, and body fat analyzers. If you need a heart rate monitor, but are not planning to run for miles a day, try an Omron heart rate monitor first. This company is especially popular with senior citizens and patients suffering from high blood pressure or heart disease. Now that you know which brand specializes in what, you'll have a better idea where to start your search. We hope this will help you find the best product for you a price you can afford. Happy Hunting!

This is where a Polar heart rate monitor watch comes in. The beauty of having a heart rate monitor watch is that you do not over or under exert yourself during workouts. You are always training at the right Intensities. That is the secret to heart rate monitors! To ensure that you are constantly training at the right intensities, you should have a good heart rate monitor with you. A brand that has been in the industry for many years is Polar. In fact, they have been around for over thirty years.

Polar Heart Rate Monitor Watch Review

When choosing a Polar heart rate monitor watch, you are investing in a training tool that is loaded with many training functions, stylish and dependable. There have been many favorites such as the Polar F11, polar F6 and Polar Cs600. These Polar heart monitors have provided so much for users over the years. One of their latest works of collection has been the Polar Rs300x heart rate monitor watch.

Here is a sophisticated training device that ensures the user is always training at the right intensities and that results are always achieved. After a quick look at it, I came to the conclusion that the Polar Rs300x is a pretty good watch. It comes in a good design and does have many great features like the Polar OwnZone function that sets heart rate training zones for the users to train at the right intensities. In addition to that, the Polar Rs300x also gives the user a Fitness test to give a basis for their training.

Other Great Features or the Rs300x Polar Heart Rate Monitor watch

Other cool features include the ability for the Rs300x to track up to 16 training and exercise sessions and store it. It also provides metric information for data such as heart rate, distance, speed and pace and also the amount of calories you have burnt up during these workouts. There is so much more that the Polar Rs300x heart rate monitor watch offers. With this Polar Heart Rate Monitor Watch you can achieve so much and reach those fitness goals that were at one stage in your life, an impossible feat.

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Trying to come up with the right training routines and fitness workouts can sometimes be a real pain in the butt! What is even worse is the fact that after you do this, the harder steps are yet to come. Training is not easy! You have to have dedication and perseverance to really get through workouts and achieve results. From personal experience, that is no easy task.

Trying to wake up at 5 O’clock every morning to cycle or jog is no easy task. However, the good news is that after awhile, it becomes quite fun. The secret is to always keep a goal in mind. Mine was to get fit enough to play Rugby! Here is a link to that Rugby Article.

Choose the Right Partner!

In addition to the motivation for rugby, I had friends to train with. Having a training partner with you goes a long way in ensuring that you meet your Fitness goals. Some of us like to take our best friend, our girlfriends/boyfriends and even our spouses. It is important that you have someone with you that is also driven and will not become a hindrance later on. I have seen cases where you had training buddies (one motivated and the other not) lose focus and give up because they are not on the same page.

On top of having a training partner, you might want to look at a heart rate monitor watch. These training tools really do work to give the user so much more and help them along the way. With my heart rate monitor, I was able to calculate how much calories I had taken in over the day and set out a program just to beat those calories. Aerobic heart rate is important if you want to become fit. This includes your resting heart rate.

More on Heart Rate Monitors and Fitness

Your resting heart rate tells you a lot about your fitness levels. Without a heart rate monitor, I would not have known these. Also your training intensities are given by these remarkable tools. Some heart monitors like the Polar F55 also supply data such as weight lifting. This can be in the form of what exercises to do like Squats and how much weight on the bar and reps you must do. That is the same as having a professional fitness trainer on hand.

Final Looks

For any professional athlete or average Joe alike, if you are planning to hit fitness targets than begin with a plan today. When you have set out your fitness routines than look for a training buddy along with a heart rate monitor to really optimize your workout.

Polar F11

As I said earlier, the Polar F11 heart rate monitor watch is an incredible tool. Whether for fitness or weight loss, it does the job. From what I’ve seen and experienced with the F11, I’m fairly impressed.

The fitness plan that the Polar F11 provides you from the data you put in, it sets out a detailed workout plan for you with information such as “How many hours you should workout” or “how long you should spend at each heart rate intensity level”. If you are like me and you already have a set program than you can ignore all these features on the Polar F11 and use it for its primary use as a heart rate monitoring device.

A Look at Other Features and Functions of the F11 Polar Monitor

One of the other features that I really like is the Polar OwnCal. It monitors your calorie intake and how much of it is burnt up during workouts. We build up on calories everyday with what we eat and our lifestyle. To ensure that these calories do not remain in the body as fat, we have to burn them. For every extra slice of pizza you have, you will need to run a bit longer or cycle a little bit further at the right intensities. This is why the Polar OwnCal feature is important for users of the F11.

Apart from the nice clean looks that the polar F11 has, it is also really simple to use. When you are using the different features, digital images tell you what you are using. If you have problems with your Polar F11, the instructional manual is straight forward because it gives detailed instructions.

Another handy feature is the Fitness Progress report that shows which areas of your training you have improved on. This is done through a chart and happens over time so you will see it graphically. It is important that you take the fitness test at the beginning because that is the base for your improvement and performance.

Final Outlook

Overall, I kinda like the Polar F11. To me, it is Polar’s version of the Garmin 305. It does have its moments though where it can get annoying but for functionality, I give it a 4 out of 5 rating (right on the money with Amazon users). Polar could have done a bit more with the looks but it still is okay. Whether for beginners or experienced athletes, I feel the Polar F11 is for everyone.

Here is the First Part to this Review:

A Real Workout with the Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor [Part 1]

Polar F11

Design and Style Features

Right off the bat, the Polar F11 is not that bad looking. It has a sort of “Macho” aura to it. With its wide display screen and large buttons, it is just right for training. There is no hassle or fuss trying to see the display screen or press buttons when you are out on your run. One thing that frustrates me a lot is when I am deep into my workout (especially running) and trying to fiddle with small buttons and display options. It can really put you off your training and set you back.

Training Tools – Keeps U Fit

The first thing you do with the Polar F11 is to input your data or stats. This is done through the new feature known as “Keep U Fit”. This program works by taking information from a fitness test that you undergo. It takes a measure of your resting heart rate and tells you the level of fitness that you have. From the information that it acquires, you than tell the heart watch (by way of options) if you want to maintain and maximize fitness or improve on it.

With all the data, the F11 will create a fitness and training plan and schedule for you. It provides you with details like the amount of time (in hours) you should spend working out. It will also provide heart rate zones and tell you how long you should spend within those zones. In simpler terms, it tells you at what intensities you should be working out on.

Wow! All that from a heart rate monitor. I Know! I was amazed at all the information that the Polar F11 gathers. With this training tool, who needs a fitness trainer.

There is a lot that the Polar F11 provides. This first part of my review was on the preparation stage or the initial stage of the Polar F11. The next part of the review will go into details on how the Polar F11 fares on the road. I will also be answering the questions on whether the 4 star rating out of 5 on Amazon.com by users is justified.

Here is the second part to the Review:

A Real Workout with the Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor [Part 2]

Anyways, finding someone to train with is very important. For instance, your spouse or partner, your brother or sister, even a friend or team mate. Having someone with you can make training fun and they will be able to help you push yourself beyond your limits. So for the guys who choose to take their spouses or partners with them or the ladies who want to train, here are a few Suunto heart rate monitors that you should consider for them.

Suunto T-Series for Women

Overview - Suunto T1C Heart Rate Monitor Watch

The Suunto T1C is a great beginner’s heart rate monitor for women. It is stylish and comes with great functionality. This Suunto heart rate monitor comes with a built-in chronograph, battery indicator and a back light on top of its heart rate monitoring system. It is a simple to use monitor that allows the user to focus more on their training. It also allows you to customize your workout within its 3 heart rate zones. With the Suunto heart belt, you can really get your heart pumping.

Suunto T1C - True Fuchsia	Suunto T1C - Orange Flare
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Overview – Suunto T3C Heart Rate Monitor Watch

The Suunto T3C is the next version to the Suunto T1C in the Suunto heart rate monitor. It is suited more for the serious athlete or person who goes all out in their workouts. With the built-in Training Effect function, this Suunto heart rate monitor is able to provide accurate real time display of your training data and personal fitness level. The Suunto T3C uses information from your body to tell you how you are doing in the workout. This heart rate watch also has the ability to store up to 15 previous workout data, show calories burnt and hook up to a PC for further analysis.

Suunto T3C - Sporty Rec	Suunto T3C - Deep Green
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These are just a few options for heart rate monitors for women. A Suunto heart rate monitor watch is both stylish and functional with many great features and functions. Do your training and workouts justice by picking one of these up. You will not be disappointed.

When I first took the Garmin 305 on the road, there was a lot of expectation from my side. As I mentioned earlier, the Garmin 305 is not a pretty heart rate monitor to look at. In terms of features and functions, I will talk about the GPS capabilities on this monitor. The Garmin 305 uses a high-sensitivity feature known as the SiRFstar III GPS receiver. In simple terms, this is the tool that the 305 uses to track and put a lock on your position. This technology is far better than anything before it.

Within the first couple minutes of my run, my Garmin Forerunner was tracking my speed and distance through its satellite technology. Over the next couple of runs, the GPS connection with satellites was instantaneous. Now I will explain why the screen is quite large and out there. The main reason for this design is to do with the GPS function.

Garmin 305 Forerunner

Training Features – What Does the Forerunner 305 have to Offer?

Before GPS and altimeters and all these fancy other tools, the main purpose of a heart rate monitor was for training. Therefore, I was more concerned about the training capabilities of the Garmin 305 than anything else. After a couple of runs, I was fairly impressed. In actual fact, I was amazed at the amount of real time data the Garmin 305 is able to display.

During my runs (averaging 2 to 2.5 miles a session), this Garmin heart rate monitor was showing me the calories that were being burnt up, distance of my run, the elevation (through the built-in altimeter), pace and a few other figures that I still haven’t got a round to finding out. But I am pretty sure they are important. Don’t worry though, our friends down at Garmin have made this monitor so user friendly that you can arrange the data that you want to see. That is another big plus in my books, the user friendly nature of the Garmin 305.

Connectivity to a PC

With the Training Center Software that comes with this monitor, you will be able to download all your workout data and analyze your workout. Something that I have yet to try but I heard from Bill that is really cools is that you can use Google Earth and the Garmin 305 Software to see map routes of where you may have run or cycled.

Whether you are a professional athlete or an average Joe like me, the Garmin 305 Forerunner would be the best heart rate monitor for working out with. Of all the heart rate monitors I’ve come across or used, the Garmin 305 has to be the most accurate and reliable performance tool out there.

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My first encounter with the Garmin 305 Forerunner heart rate monitor watch was way back in early 2009. Previously, I had only heard of the Forerunner 305 from one of my friends, Bill. He is one of those fitness buffs that you would see in the gym everyday working out or on the tracks running laps. He told me that this heart watch had helped him so much in his fitness goals. Bill was going on and on about how it could do this and how it could do that! So one day I thought, “Enough is enough, I got to see what all the fuss is about!”

One night after dinner I decided to hop on the net and check out some reviews on the Garmin Forerunner 305. In no time I found myself deep into forums and blogs searching out all that I could about this heart monitor. I was reading review after review trying to see whether it was worth it. I also found out that on Amazon.com, it carried a high users rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. Wow! The next day at work, I started thinking more and more about the Garmin 305. Did I actually need one? How is it so different from the one that I currently have? What makes it stand out?

After much deliberation and thought, I decided to fork out a couple of bucks (Just under $300 if I can remember) and order one online. So here is my personal review on the Garmin 305 Forerunner heart rate monitor.

The Features that Everyone Raves About (Even you Bill!)

My first impression and feelings of the Garmin 305 was mixed. It looked kind of awkward and bulky. One of the thoughts that crossed my mind was “Did the designers make a blunder?” Don’t get me wrong but the Garmin 305 looks like an over sized wrist watch. However, as I’ll explain later, it is not a design flaw but something that was designed for certain functions.

Right of the bat, you can see that the Garmin 305 Forerunner has a pretty large display screen with large buttons also. That counts as a plus in my books because nothing is more frustrating than fiddling with buttons and settings while also trying to see details on a heart rate monitor in the middle of your run or even worse, when you’re cycling. After a quick read of the manual that accompanied it, the only thing left was to test it on the road.

To Be Continued ….

What Type of Training is involved?

Training for the NBA requires a lot of dedication and perseverance. Early morning runs and many hours of gym work are just some of the things these professional athletes go through on a daily basis. That does not include sessions that you have to do with the team. For instance, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic even does Push-ups (around 400) when he is playing video games. This shows that there is no time to sit back. He is a beast of a man that posses incredible strength and agility. It is said that if you want to know the size of his biceps, you should place a beer can under your sleeves.

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers does a combination of Running (2 hours), Basketball skills workouts (2 hours), Cardio (1 hour) and weights (1 hour) as part of his daily routine. For running, Kobe varies between sprints and distance on the tracks, cross country running and court running which is 2hours spent sprinting and doing suicides (gut busters) on the court. These build explosiveness and fitness for these athletes.

For Basketball skills, Kobe shoots an incredible 700 to 1000 shots a day from different positions on the court. His Cardio workout involves high intensity workouts such as boxing and jump ropes. If all that is not enough, he does an hour of weights to build strength. For six days a week Kobe Bryant is in the Gym. Four days are spent on his upper body while two are on his legs. However, each day does crunches to build up his core strength. In the off-season, Kobe spends 6 hours a day working out. When the season begins, he cuts it down to four on top of the team training and games. With this type of workout schedule, it is no surprise why he is the best at what he does. Four Championship Rings, Scoring titles, MVP title and numerous other accolades are just a testament of what Kobe Bryant puts in day in and day out.

How does a Heart Rate Monitor Help Here?

With a heart rate monitor watch, you can monitor your progress and intensity when you are working out. Not everyone can afford to pay a fitness guru or trainer to be on hand 24/7 to monitor your progress. The heart rate monitor is the next best thing. There are numerous heart rate monitors out there that are able to help you in different areas of your workout.

However, don’t get me wrong because basketball has its own physical demands and requires stamina, agility and a lot of skills (That is if you want to make it professionally). You got players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James who do things on the court that you never thought was humanly possible. LeBron James for instance is said to be one of the most gifted pure athletes to ever play in the NBA. At 6 feet 8 inches and 250lb or 113 kilograms, LeBron James is a beast on the court. One thing that LeBron is famous for is his size, strength and quickness that allows him to easily get by defenders. If that is not bad enough, he is able to absorb a lot of contact when going to the hoop without much of a flinch. Can you imagine a 250 lb, 6’8” figure running or even flying at you to get to the rim? I know, it’s a daunting thing! Basketball players do also go through a lot of strength and conditioning.

A Look into the NBA

Statistics show that the odds of someone randomly taking up basketball and making it into the NBA is very slim. There are 30 teams in the NBA and 12 roster spots available for each of those teams. That equates to 360 available spaces in the NBA. These professional athletes go through years of training and dedication just too even be considered. From a young age, the players are put through their paces day in and day out, from dusk till dawn just to get better. Apart from physical capabilities, to become a professional basketball player, size is a very important factor. Stats show that players under 6 feet are few and far between.

For those that are not familiar with basketball, there are three basic positions: the Point Guard, Shooting Guard, Shooting Forward, Power Forward and Center. The Point Guard is usually like the play maker but it is not limited to that position alone. For example, when you look at teams like the Lakers and Cavs, they run their plays through Kobe Bryant (Shooting Guard) and LeBron James (Power Forward).

For more, check here for the continuation of this article …