target heart rate confusion

[Lao Tzu]

target heart rate is 60-80% of maximum heart rate supposedly.

Since i am a 23 y.o. man with a resting heart rate of 95, that means my target heart rate is between 118-158 and my max is 197.

However, getting to 140 barely breaks a sweat with me. Is this still healthy cardiovascular work or do i need to go higher? It just seems like barely breaking a sweat will not help your cardiovascular system out.

When i use a large stepper, i get up to about 180 bpm, but my legs give out. On a small stepper i get up to about 140, and find it easier on my legs.

However, when i go to 180 bpm, i have chest pains off & on the next day. So i may be doing more harm than good.


Basically, i don't know what to do exactly. On one hand, i would prefer to only go to 140-150 bpm during cardio because it is easier on me physically (so i can do it for longer periods & more often w/o losing motivation) but i am afraid i am not doing much to help my cardiovascular system.

any medical advice?

 

[Lord_Suston]

anything that makes your heart hurt the next day is not healthy. Just because you aren't sweating too badly doesn't mean it isn't working. cardiovascular is for time not that much intensity versus other forms of excercise. Why not try doing the small stepper for 30 minutes if you can get this up the difficulty untill you can do the highest setting no prob, then move on to the bigger stepper make sure it is on the easy setting as well and see how this works, at any point you feel any pain stop immediately no use getting hurt for a measily heart range....

 

[Exodus]

go fast enough to sweat, but slow enough to carry on a conversation with the person next to you without being out of breath.

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