heart rate question - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

ladytonya · 08-04-2007, 11:30 PM

Okay, I've never thought about this, but my husband is starting to workout and is concerned about his heart rate. He is 420 lbs. and has never really worked out much. He doesn't want to push it too hard and drop dead of a heart attach because of his weight and exercising too hard. He joined the gym with me last week and does the elliptical and recumbent bike. He watches his heart rate on both and hasn't let it get up as high as 150. I didn't a heart rate calculator on him and it gives a 184 maximum heart rate with other ranges. We want to be sure he is keeping it high enough to get the cardiovascular and fat burning benefits of working out but not so high that he hurts himself, especially given his weight. When I joined the gum and started working out in February, I was already below 400 and I started slow and worked my way up. He is starting a little more slowly than I did. We would just do an appointment with a personal trainer for some suggestions, but I'm afraid the trainers they have will not have knowledge of people his weight who have lead a very sedentary lifestyle and will try to push him too hard. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

porshh951 · 08-05-2007, 08:19 AM

always use a monitor and tell him as long as he feels okay to keep going.

To be truthful our bodies are very very strong. Especially our hearts. I was over 400lbs too when I started really working out hard. When I was that weight my max heart rate was around 175. I never let it get really any higher than that.

Now I let it go higher but, 170 range is a good rate for him. As long as he has no known heart conditions or problems I don't see the issue. Just always wear a monitor and if you feel any sort of problem stop immediately.

Gina in NY · 08-05-2007, 08:30 AM

Just put a call into your PCP and see what he recommends. He knows you hubby.

And the trainers will never push a heart rate - they'll tell him to stay under 130! to stay in the mythical "fat burning zone".

I stick around 145 during workouts and I feel it. So 150 seems reasonable to me, but I'm not his doctor, I don't know all his other issues.

Anyway - Doctor first, trainer if you want, but trainers need to cover their booties, so won't push if they're smart.

ladytonya · 08-05-2007, 11:44 AM

He doesn't have any health issues other than acid reflux. Two years ago he started the acid reflux thing and they did all sorts of tests on his heart. He had an EKG, a stress test, and they did a heart cath because they thought they saw something on the stress test but the cardiologist said the insides of his arteries are smooth as a baby's bottom. He hasn't missed a day of work in over two years. Only health problem he has is allergies that absolutely drive me crazy because he won't take anything for them!

We can't afford to buy a heart monitor right now. I always just use the ones on the machines at the gym. For me, I pretty much always use the same elliptical and the heart rate seems to stay the same. He's just paranoid because of reading about people who are in perfect physical condition who drop dead of a heart attack after working out. Of course, I don't exactly want him to drop dead, either, so I told him I'd check on here. Told him there were two people who would answer and, sure enough, John and Gina were right there! Thanks, guys, and good luck with the continued recovery from your PS!