Normal Resting Heart Rate

The resting heart rate will usually increase with age and is generally lower in physically fit people. Other factors that affect your heart rate are:

• gender
• drugs and medication
• genetics
• stress or anxiety

To measure your heart rate - the old school way - follow these simple instructions:

1. Place the tips of your index and second fingers on the palm side of your other wrist just below the base of your thumb (see photo).
2. Press lightly with your fingers until you feel the blood pulsing under your fingers. If you can't feel it move your fingers around up or down a little bit until you feel pulsing distinctly.
3. Use a watch with a second hand, or look at a clock with a second hand and count the beats you feel for 10 seconds.
4. Multiply the number of beats you counted by six to get your heart rate (pulse) per minute.

Example: if you counted 12 beats in ten seconds calculate 12 beats (per 10 seconds) X 6 = 72 beats per minute

If you would like to learn more about target heart rates while exercising - ie.: optimal fat burning heart rate click on the link.

Finally, if you want to measure your heart rate on a regular basis at home it will be worthwhile to invest in a heart rate monitor and if you want to focus on fat loss while at the gym we suggest you get a more compact, convenient and fashionable sports heart rate monitor.