I started going to the gym last week (was sleeved a month ago on 3/8/2013). I've been doing the elliptical machine, by the third day I got up to 25 minutes. My question is this - when I first get on the elliptical machine, the heartrate monitor on the handles of the machine say that my heartrate is 115 at the start of my workout. By the time I finish my 25 minutes, it is up around 180. This seems really high to me. I don't get lightheaded or dizzy or anything. When I go to the doctor and they put the thing on my finger that tells me what my oxygen level and heart rate are, it's usually around 70-80, so I don't think my heartrate is abnormally high. Why would it be so high on the elliptical machine? I know I'm out of shape, that's why I needed the surgery, LOL. Are they inaccurate or is my heartrate really that high? Why would it be 115 at the start, did it get that high just from changing clothes in the locker room and walking to the machine?

Thanks for the info/advice. This might all seem like common sense to you, but it's all new to me, which is why I asked the question. I figured as long as I was doing what I could, the heart would catch up. I was only able to do 10 minutes the first day, 22 minutes the second day, then 25 minutes the third day. It's been getting easier every day, so I figured I was progressing nicely. I question the accuracy of the monitor, it doesn't make sense that I would be at 115 when I first set foot on the machine.

Thanks for the info/advice. This might all seem like common sense to you' date=' but it's all new to me, which is why I asked the question. I figured as long as I was doing what I could, the heart would catch up. I was only able to do 10 minutes the first day, 22 minutes the second day, then 25 minutes the third day. It's been getting easier every day, so I figured I was progressing nicely. I question the accuracy of the monitor, it doesn't make sense that I would be at 115 when I first set foot on the machine.[/quote']

It seems to me that it might be worth it to invest in a decent personal heart rate monitor. As others have mentioned and you suspect, they aren't always all that accurate on some of the exercise equipment, plus you'll have consistent measurements available to you throughout your entire workout.

I know that when I was seeing a personal trainer we found a fair amount of variance on the various pieces of equipment in the gym, even equipment made by the same manufacturer and the same age. It was a lot easier to keep my heart rate consistently in the zone after I got my own.

Good luck!

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I don't trust the HRM on those machines. in spinning classes we go by perceived exertion and I sure feel exerted. . Those cycling people are a little nuts but they definitely drive us to higher heartrate. Of course everyone is fairly fit in that class.

Don't overdo it early on....build up carefully to avoid injury. This whole fitness thing is more of a marathon then a sprint.

Thanks for the info/advice. This might all seem like common sense to you, but it's all new to me, which is why I asked the question. I figured as long as I was doing what I could, the heart would catch up. I was only able to do 10 minutes the first day, 22 minutes the second day, then 25 minutes the third day. It's been getting easier every day, so I figured I was progressing nicely. I question the accuracy of the monitor, it doesn't make sense that I would be at 115 when I first set foot on the machine.

No no, it's all good man, that's what I'm here for, love chiming in where I can. When I started, jeez 15 years ago, makes me feel old, it wasn't easy to grasp each concept, but after years of being around experts and studying, it got easier. Just ease in to things at first, give it some time.

Don't trust those dopey HR monitors built into machines. Stop exercising, find ur pulse, starting at zero count the beats for 6 sec and stick a zero on the end. Salt in your diet, hydration, how you hold the sensors.....all this and more plays into thier accuracy.