A Heart Rate Monitor is essential in keeping track of fitness and is one of the most important fitness accessories you can have. By monitoring the intensity of your exercise it allows you to increase or decrease this as appropriate. Watching your heart rate can increase motivation and clearly indicate underperformance or an improvement in fitness. It also means you can train at your own pace and adapt your fitness programme, making it an ideal training partner for any fitness equipment.

They work usually through attachments to your chest and then continually transmit your heart rate information to the monitor's receiver, normally a wrist watch. Most monitors feature alarms that can be set at a target level that beep if you go above or below this, and often you can store session information for future use making them very versatile.

There are five main areas of activity your heart can be in during exercise:
The Healthy Heart Zone: 50% to 60% of your individual maximum heart rate. This is a safe, comfortable zone reached by and easy walk. This is the best zone for people who are just starting to exercise. This zone has been shown to help decrease body fat, blood pressure and cholesterol.
The Temperate Zone: 60% to 70% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone provides the same benefits as the healthy heart zone, but is more intense and burns more total calories. Achieved through a faster walking speed or a slow jog.
The Aerobic Zone: 70% to 80% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone will improve your cardiovascular and respiratory system and increase the size and strength of your heart. Achieved through a steady jog.
The Anaerobic Threshold Zone: 80% to 90% of your individual maximum heart rate. This is a high intensity zone achieved through a fast run.
The Redline Zone: 90% to 100% of your individual maximum heart rate. This zone is the equivalent of running full out, and is often used in "interval" training. This zone should be approached with caution and can lead to injuries when sustained for a long period.

When losing weight and improving your cardiovascular health you should keep an eye on your heart rate. By monitoring your heart and working within these zones it will enhance your overall health and physical performance.