Training & Nutrition - Heartbeat

Today, I got the lowest reading on my resting heartrate ever: 50 beats per minute!

Considering when I was 30 (now 41,) and a chain-smoking coffee guzzler (no, it's not hard to keep the chains lit,) my heart rate was not uncommonly around 90 beats per minute.

GOOD JOB BY YOU!!!!!!!!!! VERY COOL!!!!!!!!

Pete!!!! HOOAH!!!

Pete that is VERY cool! :thumbup:

I can never remember to take my pulse when I first wake up. I don't usually remember until I'm well into my second cup of coffee. Perhaps if I wore my heart monitor to bed...

When I started into this fitness thing 6 weeks ago, I was @ 101bpm after walking up the stairs from the rec room to the kitchen. Now I'm at 86 after running up. I'm encouraged! :D

Maybe I should go out and get a HRM or something...

:confused:

Chris

Oh, jeeze, Pete, you caught my attention with the title of this thread: "HEARTBEAT".

I thought you were writing about that unforgettable chart-busting hit from the '80's by Don Johnson.

It seems, though, that you are talking about something else...

Don Johnson had a chart-busting hit? ;)

You're going to have to work harder Uncle Petey. Took mine this morning and it was 49! Couldn't believe it.
Do you take yours in the morning? DG

I have a question that is along the same line as heartrate.

I had my annual physical recently. Everything was better than ok except one thing, my blood pressure.
My cholestrol (sp?) was 167 and the other bloodwork yielded great results for every other test.

So does anyone have any thoughts as to why my blood pressure changed from the 115/75 range (last year's physical) to 150/80? I know you're not all doctors, but maybe you have some ideas.

My weight is down from last year and my doctor was very pleased with everything in general. I told him it was all due to cycling and commuting to work.

He wants to see me again in October to do more checks on my blood pressure.

I've looked all over the internet and everything regarding elevated BP mentions weight (not my problem), inactivity (not my problem), fat in the diet (I live on fruit and veggies, very little meat), and alcohol consumption (I have 1 beer a month).
Is it age related? I'm 56.
Thanks.

Age, stress, heredity, caffeine. There are lots of reasons for it Ron. My Mom and Dad both have higher than normal BP. So I guess I'm doomed too. Mine has come down considerably since losing weight and biking alot. Some days it's 130/75 or lower and occasionaly it's higher. Like about 150/80 as you described. My doc put me on a mild BP last year even though I was borderline. She said it can't hurt and it will protect your heart so I take them. This morning it was 112/73. I don't know if you've noticed but your BP is always higher in the evening. After all the days stresses etc. Hope this helps some. DG

It doesn't sound like "lab coat effect," but have you taken your blood pressure since the check up? Mine was a little high, so my doctor told me to take it twice a week. I use the automated machines at the pharmacy and it's always well within normal (about 10 points lower than in the office that time).

Kevin S.

Kevin,
I take my BP every time I'm at Kroger or Publix and lately it has always been in the 140+/75 range.
Scary!! :( :cry:

Ron,

I don't know, but maybe (long shot) your body is adjusting to the new commuting distances.

Maybe with occasional rest and time to adapt, your blood pressure will normalize again.

Whenever I overdid my riding during the week, I began to run higher resting heart rates. I never checked my blood pressure, though. Just a guess, maybe worth trying.

Thanks for all the input. :thumbup:

Regardless of what my BP measures (120 or 150) my pulse is 58 to 64.
The whole thing is just confusing to me. I thought exercise was supposed to make me healthier. ;)

I'll just monitor everything and wait till October when I visit the doctor again.

And Pete, I'll try resting more and not pushing myself.

42 BPM when I first wake up, but it doesn't stay there long.

RonH,

Blood pressure machines, like the ones in grocery stores and all, aren't always very well calibrated, although they don't sound inconsistant with your check-up or each other. A couple years ago I was getting readings that were a little high and the doctor advised me to start getting it checked regularly. There's a nurse on staff where I work, so I was able to set up a weekly appointment. The upshot is that over the course of a month or two I got a couple of quite good readings. The doctor saw those and said (paraphrasing) 'no worries.'

I guess my point is, see if you can get some readings at a low stress time. For me, a trip to the grocery store can be pretty stressful (traffic, renegade power-shoppers, etc.). Exercise, etc., can drive up your BP short term, but the benefits certainly outweigh any drawbacks!

P.S. I noticed in another post you recently became the proud owner of a Litespeed Tuscany. I got a Classic last December, and have been a happy camper ever since. Best wishes for many happy miles! :thumbup: