How fast should my heart beat during an aerobic workout?
How fast your heart should beat during exercise depends on your age and fitness level (refer to Table 5). According to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), aerobic fitness can best be improved by exercising at an intensity level between 60-90 percent of your maximal heart rate. If you are just starting your workout program, you should exercise at the lower end of the intensity scale (i.e., 60-70 percent). When this level becomes less challenging (usually after three to six months), you should gradually increase the level of exercise intensity until you reach the middle of the range (70-80 percent). As your level of aerobic fitness continues to improve, you may then decide to adjust your exercise intensity rate up towards the higher end of the recommended range (80-90 percent). You should avoid exercising above your target heart rate range, since this could place you at risk for overtraining and/or injury. As a general rule, if you are unable to comfortably carry on a convers
