Am I missing something re: the UK Wt Loss Programme

[Adenium]

OK, so I've recently gotten back into regular exercise after about 6 years of relative sloth-ness. I got my Model E for Christmas and have been using it a few times a week since. Now that I've gotten back into the swing of things, I decided to sit down and calculate a real plan for weight loss using the oft-linked UK Interactive Programme. I feel like I'm missing something stupid, though.

Using the more "modern" MHR calculators my MHR is about 185. My resting heart rate is about 80.....so in my intervals according to their plan I should be backing down to a HR double that - or 160bpm. Problem is, that puts me well above the HR recommended for the work mode in UT1 or even UT2. How can my interval goal rate be higher than the "working" mode rate? Should I just say to heck with it and make myself do some interval training that alternates working really hard with working less?

[hjs]

MHf can not be found via a formula, but has to be the real thing.
Use 60 as rest rate, 80 is high but it will come down soon. Use the guidelines roughly, adjust to your personal needs. Stay on the safe side in the beginning, its about getting started and getting to know your body.

[Adenium]

Thanks - I had a feeling that would be the suggestion.

Wish I could just get a full stress test determination, but being young and so-far-as-i-know free of health troubles fat chance getting that approved or covered. So yes, I will have to go with estimates for now and hopefully my regular HR comes down as I get more fit. I freaked out a little bit when I got the model E and started using the HR monitor - I'd never used one before (never got a decent reading from one when I was younger so stopped trying) and was shocked to see my HR in the 170s with not that much effort. I have no idea what the HR was in my younger fitter days.

I rowed in high school crew but not really since then. I'm 33 now. Sigh. A split of 2:40-2:50 is as much as I can maintain for distance work. It's depressing, but I'm sure it will get better. Better than nothing, right?

[hjs]

Yep,

There is one good thing about being unfit..... You will improve rapidly, have patience and go for it.

Good luck!

[Bob S.]

Thanks - I had a feeling that would be the suggestion.

Wish I could just get a full stress test determination, but being young and so-far-as-i-know free of health troubles fat chance getting that approved or covered. So yes, I will have to go with estimates for now and hopefully my regular HR comes down as I get more fit.

You don't have to get a full scale stress test. You can get a pretty good idea of your HR max on your own, especially with an erg available to do it on. If you Google measuring HR max, you will get over 5 million hits. There are several on the first page that look like they would do the trick. If you check out Eddie Fletcher along with HR max, you can get hits specific to rowing.

Bob S.