Women's Health Magazine March 2012 issue

Will using a heart-rate monitor really help my workout? Lauren R., Indianapolis, IN Absolutely. This little gadget provides an important representation of how hard you're working says Joan Pagano, author of Strength Training for Women. By tracking your ticker, you'll know what it takes to hit your target training zone. You should be at 80 percent of your maximum heart rate - find your max by subtracting your age from 220 - when pushing hard (say, during the intense part of an interval) and 60 to 70 percent while moving at a steady, aerobic pace (like during a longer run). It's also an easy way to measure your progress: The lower your resting heart rate - check it first thing in the morning - the stronger your heart has become.