One of the most important parts of any exercise program for diabetics is a good heart rate monitor, which is used to monitor cardiovascular activity. Is a heart rate monitor REALLY necessary? In our opinion, IT IS! Get one unless you absolutely just cannot afford it. Do you need a fancy one? Not at all, but you should get one that will work with most health club equipment, which is why we suggest the following monitors from Polar -- the unquestioned leader in the field:
Priced at $49.95, the Polar F1 heart rate monitor was designed for the beginning exerciser new to heart rate based workouts. One button operation and bold numbers make it easy to use during any exercise. Tracks heart rate and exercise time continuously. Provides your average heart rate at the end of your workout, so you can track fitness improvements. The F1 is a basic monitor for a basic price.
At $69.95, the A3 is still a low-priced, basic monitor. Its main feature above the F1 is the new Zone Pointer that helps keep you in your Target Zone. If you want to be "scientific" about your workouts, the target zone feature is important. Other features include percentage of maximum heart rate, an exercise timer, and storage for one workout file.
At $89.95, the Polar A5 heart rate monitor adds exercise guidance and improved feedback about your workout over its little brother, the A3. A built-in walking test (Self Walk Test) tells you how fit you are, and helps you set up your exercise program. The OwnCal calorie counter also helps you manage your weight loss program. It also tells you how efficient your workout was by tracking your time in zone and total calories. Basically, the A5 steps beyond heart monitoring and moves into the world of fitness tools.
At $109.95, the Polar M32 heart rate monitor is the ideal unit for the serious exerciser looking to lose weight or reach the next level of fitness. The OwnCal feature counts the calories and fat that you burn. The OwnZone feature automatically determines each day's target zone. The M32 features the WearLink Coded transmitter made from a soft, fabric material. The electrodes, which pick up the heart signals, are integrated right into the strap for added flexibility and comfort. The Coded feature also eliminates interference from other heart rate monitors. In short, if you want to use your heart rate monitor as a serious exercise planning tool that will help you plan and track your workouts, the M32 is a good starting point. Note: Polar has a number of more advanced monitors, including several that connect to your PC to upload workout records to training software. If you're a serious athlete, you might want to consider such a device. If you're trying to control your diabetes, these features are not necessary, although if you're the kind of person who wants to track it all, you'll also find them on Walmart.com as well.
In general, we don't recommend many exercise products for the home. Most of them, in our opinion, are gimmicks. We think the Bosu™ Balance Trainer is different. It looks amazingly simple. It's not. If you work with it diligently, you'll end up with excellent core stability and balance, which is of critical importance to any training program. Numerous sports teams, trainers, and pro athletes have made balance a key part of their exercise routines. For example, all-star baseball player Steve Finley recently said he didn't do an exercise anymore that didn't include balance. The Bosu Balance Trainer will meet all your core training needs. $98.77 from WalMart. Check it out.
If you want to look for a other fitness gear, WalMart has a huge selection at outstanding prices. Just type in what you're looking for to find it.
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