So you’ve got a new fitness tracker.
Im an Exercise PhysiologistHeres Why You Shouldnt Worry About Cortisol Spikes When You Do HIIT Workouts.
But youll only unlock those benefits if you actually know how to interpret the numbers.
First things first: What is HRV, anyway?
We tend to think of our hearts like clocks, ticking at regular intervals.
HRV offers clues about which of these systems is predominating in our body.
exercise physiologist and founder of Own It
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When HRV is higher, your heart is only really beating when it has to.
That means youre in a very parasympathetic state, relaxed, says Roethlingshoefer.
Contrary to what you might think,stress isnt inherently bad.
Exercise, for example, is a form of stress.
There are stressors, and there are adaptations.
How can you interpret those numbers?
Take at least a week to get a sense of your personal baseline.
Second, dont check your HRV score multiple times throughout the day.
The more data you collect over time, the more useful your insights will become.
Once you know where your score typically falls, you could use HRV to guide your workouts.
Say my average HRV is 105.
Then I might wake up the next day with an HRV of 107, says Roethlingshoefer.
And remember, exercise isnt the only form of stress we encounter in our lives.
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