Polar Love

The following post is sponsored by FitFluential LLC on behalf of Polar.

It’s not often that I really get into the details of my workouts here on the blog.  I try not to make it a secret that I really do enjoy working out – it is such a great release for me – but since I’m no longer a certified trainer I just want to be careful about the things I suggest you guys try when it comes to your fitness.  You should always ALWAYS consult a physician when you are planning on changing your activity and/or diet!

Ever since I was a personal trainer I’ve had a Polar heart rate monitor and have worked consistently to track my heart rate during my workouts.  Not only is it interesting for a fitness geek like me, but it really makes me push myself harder and get a better bang for my buck in terms of workout time.  I don’t have a gym membership and have really come to enjoy exercising at home, but I’ve had to find ways to really motivate myself when the couch is only inches away.  One of the best things I’ve done in regards to that motivation is invest in a heart rate monitor so that I can see how hard I’m working rather than going on feeling alone.

NOW.  Let me say this – it is GOOD to listen to your body and rest when you need to rest.  There’s a reason our bodies work the way they do.  What I’m talking about is pushing past the “I don’t feel like it” mental block to break a good sweat.  Monitoring my heart rate has been awesome for that because it helps me associate a number to the amount of work my body is doing.  So if I know I’m doing cardio for the day and I need my heart rate to stay within a certain number for that, I can see that I need to push harder or let off the gas a little bit.  It keeps me accountable to my goals!

I was sent the RC3-GPS to try out from Polar (and they have a great deal for you – details below!), and I have to say that it blows my old RS300X out of the water.  Both are fantastic heart rate monitors, but in terms of in-depth views of a workout the RC3 has it all.  There’s the GPS to track mileage, 8 different training views to see all of the variables in the workout and you can track (if you want) which heart rate zone you’re working in.  There are also options for different workouts – running, cycling, and two other sports as well.  I like to run and walk, but it’s not all I do so I really love having other workout options as well!

Whether you’re a runner, a cyclist, or you love getting a good workout from Zumba or CrossFit (or something else!) it’s so helpful to watch your heart rate.  Knowing more about how your body works is one of the best ways to push yourself to be stronger for the journey!

If you’d like to buy this great running GPS click ::here:: and use code “fitfluential” during checkout for a 25% discount! This discount is valid only on the RC3 GPS and will expire on August 10, 2013.  Below is a little video about the product so you can see how great it works – I’m not the only one who loves it!