Do you consider yourself a bit of a fitness buff? Are you also a fashion conscious individual who just cannot seem to be able to match anything but your water bottle with your more stylish outfits? Thanks to Timex, you no longer have to worry about your "fitness-inspired" watch cramping your style.

With the latest technology from Timex’s Ironman Institute, it is now possible to have a watch in many different styles and price ranges on your wrist that features a heart rate monitor. You are sure to be able to find a watch with a design you love for a price you can afford.

So what other features are there in these watches? First and foremost, Timex always stands by their products by offering a one-year warranty on their watches. The batteries last for at least a good two years and are very easy to replace. Every Timex watch also has their standard "Indiglo" back light so that you can read the time - and your heart rate - even in the dead of night!

Some other features that your Timex watch may offer are:

• Easy-to-read display

• Automatic activity timer

• Date display

• Digital or traditional displays

Let’s talk about why it is handy to have a heart rate monitor available to you at all times. If you are a fitness buff like I am, you will find the heart rate monitor extremely useful. Your heart rate is measured accurately with no lags and delays in having the rate displayed. You can see the exact amount of "activity-time" and your differing heart rates during that period (the minimum as well as the maximum heart rate that was reached during that specific time of activity). It is also handy for anyone who may suffer any sort of cardiovascular ailment and needs to keep track of his or her heart rate.

Another great feature of this watch is that it can be strapped directly to one’s chest by an elastic strap (the strap fits most chests, ranging from 25 inches to 53 inches). Many of the heart rate monitors available through Timex also have another handy feature—a "target zone" alarm. The alarm will sound when you have reached your target heart rate zone.

Remember when I said that this was affordable? Think about having a heart rate monitor for as low as $40. These watches are easily affordable, and you can also find a variety of watches that have other features that you may or may not need. There is a Timex watch out there tailored to your needs!

You can find one of these heart rate Timex watches in any department store (they are fairly well known and commonly purchased). You can also run an Internet search and purchase a watch online.

Can you put a price tag on health and fitness? A $40 Timex heart rate monitor and watch is definitely a solid investment for your life. Functional and fashionable—does it get any better than this?