One very important thing you can do today is to buy a heart rate monitor to improve and help focus your training. There are many different models of heart rate monitors for various sports and fitness levels. But many of these have some basic features in common.

A heart rate or fitness monitor registers the speed of your heartbeat during exercise. Monitors help you train within a certain target zone. Zones range from Easy to Moderate, to High Exertion. You can even train in the Fat Burning Zone. Each monitor out there has a wide selection of different features that you can use to help you train.

Your maximum heart rate is used as the basis for establishing the different zones that you will use to train. This number is generally considered to be 220 minus your age. 80-90% of your MHR is considered to be the maximum level you want to go during a workout. The moderate intensity level is a jog and is about 50-70% of your MHR. Using the 220 minus your age calculation for MHR may not be the most accurate if you are sedentary or very fit.

One type of HRM is the chest strap model. If you want accuracy, these models are the best. However they can be a little uncomfortable for women and harder to learn how to work. These types of monitors are completely wireless, feeding data from the chest strap to the wrist monitor. You have to make sure the strap stays in contact with your chest, otherwise you get inaccurate readings. Moistening the connections help.

Pulse rate monitors are another kind that you may be interested in. You have to put your finger on the monitor to get a heart rate reading. This can be kind of a pain right in the middle of a workout. However, they are cheaper, which can attract those on a limited budget. They are typically shaped to be worn like a watch, as well.

HRMs come in more basic and less basic versions. The limited functions of a basic HRM usually include average, low and high heart rates during the workout. What many people are interested in is the instantaneous rate, which tells them whether they need to increase their level of exertion or lower it in order to be within their 'zone'.

You can even look at how far you went during your exercise routine, how long you worked out and other great information. You can even connect most advanced models to your computer and download your important training data for further analysis later.

Fancy types may provide GPS capabilities in order to accurately record your distance traveled. Many monitors will even tell you your speed while you're working out so you'll know whether your pace is good or not. These devices are less reliable in certain areas such as very wooded regions. If you're going to be working out indoors a lot then using a pod that attaches to your bike or foot to track distance and speed is a good option over GPS.

The best heart rate monitors are the ones that work for you - for your needs, for your budget, and for your desires. If you're just starting out and you don't want to spend a lot then a pulse monitor is probably the way to go. If you want an accurate record of your exercising, a more advanced device that interacts with your computer might be called for. Figure out what you want and then go shopping for the best results.