Interval training question

[jennifermaria]

Hi everyone,

When doing an interval workout, what max heart rate should I be shooting for when doing the maximum exertion portion? Should it be 90%? Or higher? By "max," do they mean 100% of my MHR? I go down to 75% for the recovery intervals, but I wasn't sure how much to be shooting for on the opposite end...

Thanks in advance!

Jennifer

 

[wonderwoman]

I would say between 80-90%.

 

[MadnNatsmom]

Depends on how hard you want to work. The idea of HIIT (high intensity interval training) is to push yourself as hard as you can. 75% for recovery is still kinda high IMO. You're supposed to recover enough to give the maximum everything you've got.

But, interval work can mean anything.

I read different things - some say to go "wanting to puke" hard while others who don't think the injury risk is worth it, say maximum exertion isn't necessary. :shrug

 

[jennifermaria]

Oops, sorry, that's exactly the kind of interval workout I mean--the HIIT . It's harder for me to measure my exertion in terms of perception, because there are times when I think I am absolutely giving it my all, and I look down at my heart rate and it's barely out of the 70's in percentage .

When someone says "maximum effort" for HIIT, is that really 100% of your max heart rate?

 

[tneah]

For me, "maximum effort" is different everyday! It all depends on how my body and mind are responding to what I am doing. Some days its awesome, I am panting and out of breath but feel like I could go on forever. Other days? Not so much. Do your best and forget the rest as Tony H would say right? I ditched my heart rate monitor, I have a pretty good idea after using if for a month where I am at. And I keep myself pretty honest too, I know when I am just coasting.

 

[maddiesmum]

I don't think you are supposed to ever go to 100% max heart rate, even during HIIT. Shoot for varying heart rates and keep 90% as your max that you aim for. Puking and injury are going too far. It is supposed to do you good, not cause damage.

Clare

 

[jennifermaria]

Puking and injury are going too far.

LOL! Totally agree with you there... I'm definitely not looking to go beyond what's healthy, but I also don't want to cheat, either. And, well, I have a tendency to cut myself a lot of slack if I don't have something fairly objective to shoot for.