Resting HR anomaly

[parishd]

I've tried to measure my RHR right after waking, by taking my pulse manually as well as holding my HRM strap to my chest and using my HRM, however it always comes out about 67-69 bpm. This can't be right because when I sit on my rower and relax right before rowing, I can readily drop my HR to 59-60 bpm just by concentrating.

I am aware that the act of observing changes the observation, but this is too much! Are there other options for measuring RHR. I'd like to keep track of it as a way of measuring my progress.

Daniel

[PaulS]

I've tried to measure my RHR right after waking, by taking my pulse manually as well as holding my HRM strap to my chest and using my HRM, however it always comes out about 67-69 bpm. This can't be right because when I sit on my rower and relax right before rowing, I can readily drop my HR to 59-60 bpm just by concentrating.

I am aware that the act of observing changes the observation, but this is too much! Are there other options for measuring RHR. I'd like to keep track of it as a way of measuring my progress.

Daniel

Why can't it be right? You've just said it is quite consistent on waking, which sounds like it is exactly right.

Manipulating your HR through concentration has nothing to do with your "Resting HR", it's simply a biofeedback system that makes for much fun in the Dr.'s office and for playing with an HR monitor, but left to it's own, as with a waking HR, seeing consistency is just what you are looking for.

How do you plan on quantfying your progress relative to resting HR monitoring? Why not use Time for distance, Distance for time, or even Avg HR for a specific pace/rate/distance combination. Which are all subject to far less manipulation than resting HR?

[parishd]

For some reason I was under the impression that you couldn't deliberately lower your HR below your RHR, but I see your point. My concern is partly that only 10 years ago (I was 43 at the time) my RHR was 50-52 bpm and this seems like a pretty big jump.

To your other point, RHR is only one of the metrics I use. I do also track everything you mention. I actually have a pretty detailed logbook containing all this information and dating back to when I first started out on the erg. I am/was a physical scientist and we do like to write things down!

Thanks Paul.

Daniel

[rtmmtl]

I've tried to measure my RHR right after waking, by taking my pulse manually as well as holding my HRM strap to my chest and using my HRM, however it always comes out about 67-69 bpm. This can't be right because when I sit on my rower and relax right before rowing, I can readily drop my HR to 59-60 bpm just by concentrating.

I am aware that the act of observing changes the observation, but this is too much! Are there other options for measuring RHR. I'd like to keep track of it as a way of measuring my progress.

Daniel

Your HR after mild exercise (walking) is higher that it is when you are sitting (relaxing).

Of course.

What am I misunderstanding?

[parishd]

I've tried to measure my RHR right after waking,

Your HR after mild exercise (walking) is higher that it is when you are sitting (relaxing).

Of course.

What am I misunderstanding?

Waking not walking.

[rtmmtl]

I've tried to measure my RHR right after waking,

Your HR after mild exercise (walking) is higher that it is when you are sitting (relaxing).

Of course.

What am I misunderstanding?

Waking not walking.

Oops! "I see", said the blind man.