Heart Rate Monitors

The other day when I was doing one of the P90X workouts I remember Tony Horton talking about using a "Heart Rate Monitor." I had an idea about what it was but wanted to look into it a little further. Wikipedia states that the true definition of a heart rate monitor is:

"A heart rate monitor is a device that allows a user to measure their heart rate in real time. It usually consists of two elements: a chest strap transmitter and a wrist receiver (which usually doubles as a watch). Strapless heart rate monitors are available as well, but lack some of the functionality of the original design. Advanced models additionally measure heart rate variability to assess a user's fitness. The chest strap has electrodes in contact with the skin to monitor the electrical voltages in the heart. When a heart beat is detected a radio signal is transmitted, which the receiver uses to determine the current heart rate. This signal can be a simple radio pulse or a unique coded signal from the chest strap; the latter prevents one user's receiver from using signals from other nearby transmitters. There are a wide number of receiver designs, with all sorts of advanced features. These include average heart rate over exercise period, time in a specific heart rate zone, calories burned, and detailed logging that can be downloaded to a computer."

I do not use one myself but maybe in the future I will. I guess it would not hurt to own one and maybe it would give me a starting point to know when I am dogging it or when I know that I am really bringing it. I can see how a heart rate monitor would be able to give me all kinds of information. If you would like to buy a heart rate monitor you can find one in the Beachbody Store.