I remember hearing a comment during a conference that I attended that for every hour of flying time a jet requires 18 hours of servicing. When I shared with a few friends that are pilots they quickly agreed and weren't surprised.  And hopefully most of us recognize how much more valuable we are than a plane. Yet, we fail to make the same investment in our health and care. Specifically when it comes to our rest, recovery and regeneration. Sometimes it can seem as though all we do is push, push and push some more. We look to add more load to the bar. We want an extra rep or two. We seek extra distance or faster times. And I get it. I want these things too. But we have to be honest with ourselves. And by that I mean to look at our own lives and work ethic and answer the question 'Am I doing enough? And am I going intensely enough?'. Maybe we need an outsider to answer this for us. Because here's the thing. The person who does as much as they can and as hard as they can wouldn't think they need to take a break or slow down. Whereas the person who makes nominal efforts or investments in their health believes they are making huge efforts. [caption id="attachment_5338" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Are we pushing hard enough? Or do we need a break? And here's what typically happens with both groups of people. The person going all-out, doing as much as they can doesn't see themselves as doing too much. They have always done this and it's not out of the ordinary. Their memories allow them to recall former years when they were leaner, stronger, faster and this drives them on an impossible quest for improvement. And the other guy...

At one time heart rate monitors would have been considered for elite athletes and those with extra cash for all the latest gadgets. Not any more. The regular fitness enthusiast, amateur athlete and weekend warrior recognizes the value of using a heart rate monitor to track their workout. And not only has the price dropped substantially but the technology has also improved to provide more accurate readings. If you are already in the habit of using a heart rate monitor keep doing so. And if not, what are you waiting for? The sooner you begin tracking your workouts the better results you will begin to see. Below are 4 Top Reasons for Using a Heart Rate Monitor #1 - Proper IntensityWhile it's great to push ourselves when we train I subscribe to the approach that it's better to stimulate and not annihilate a system. You want to figure out what is the dose of exercise that won't kill you but will challenge you enough to come back stronger. In training circles this is referred to as the minimal essential dose. Think of this in terms of poison. Too much of it will kill you but a small dose may allow you to develop an immunity to it. This is similar to how vaccinations work. Anyways wearing a heart rate monitor allows you to track your heart rate and know when you are doing the right amount, not enough or too much. #2 - Track DurationWe're all busy. And if we could have the results of proper hydration and training without all the efforts many would choose this path. But the reality is a magic bullet doesn't exist and so we have to make efforts to maintain our health and fitness. Using a heart rate monitor allows us to see how long we have been...