Monitoring your heart rate can be an effective way to get the most out of your exercise program. Keeping track of your heart rate and controlling how fast or slow your heart is working when you exercise is called heart rate training. Studies are showing that heart rate training helps people reach their exercise goals quicker and more efficiently.

To start heart rate training you must know what your maximum heart rate is as it will be the number that you use to determine your heart rate zones. However, before you get started learning what your maximum heart rate is, you should realistically judge which fitness category you fall within:

Poor Shape: You have not exercised for a couple of months. Fair Shape: You exercise about three times a week-either walking or a form of aerobic activity. Good Shape: Your body is used to exercise because you run at least five miles a week or exercise most days.

After you have determined your fitness level, you can do the following test to find your maximum heart rate. While this test won't give you your exact maximum heart rate, it will get you in the immediate vicinity.

Walk One Mile: Walk a mile at an even pace either on a treadmill or at a track. When you are nearing the end of your mile, or in the last quarter of your mile, take your heart rate. Add 40 to this number if you listed yourself in poor shape; add 50 to this number if you listed yourself in fair shape, and add 60 to this number if you listed yourself in good shape.

After you have done your adding, this number will be your maximum heart rate target zone and you can start planning out your heart rate training routine based off of it. Heart rate training is easiest when you use exercise equipment, such as a treadmill, that is equipped with a heart rate monitor. The monitor will act as your trainer letting you know what heart rate zone you are throughout your workout. Using monitors saves time and lets you stay focused on your workout-instead of trying to do the monitoring manually and doing the calculations in your head. All you have to do is look at the heart rate monitor and you will know when to intensify your workout, back it down, or continue your pace, depending on your routine.

Heart Rate Training Zones

Unlike other forms of exercise a heart rate training workout should only last between 20-30 minutes. During the workout you should move in and out of your heart rate zones.

Healthy Heart Zone: In this zone your heart rate is 50%-60% of your maximum heart rate and you can easily talk to someone.

Fitness Zone: Your breathing will be heavier in this zone and you may find it difficult to talk, but you will be able to speak in quick, short sentences. Your heart rate is 60%-70% of your maximum heart rate.

Aerobic Zone: Your breathing will be very hard and you won't be able to talk with people in long sentences, but you can speak in short phrases. Your heart rate is 70%-80% of your maximum heart rate.

Anaerobic Zone: In this zone your heart rate is 80%-90% of your maximum heart rate and you should only be able to gasp out a word here and there because you will be breathing heavily.

Red Line Zone: You are in your maximum output zone and you will only be able to keep up the pace in this zone for a few minutes.

If you are looking for a workout routine that will help you lose weight, or reach your exercise goals sooner, consider heart rate training. To make your workout as efficient as possible, workout on a treadmill or other exercise machine, that has a heart rate monitor. Don't waste your time trying to judge and calculate your heart rate yourself. Let the machines do the monitoring so you can focus your time on your heart rate zones.