Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It changes over the course of the day as your activity level increases or decreases. Begin by measuring your resting heart rate....

Your heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in a minute. It changes over the course of the day as your activity level increases or decreases. Begin by measuring your resting heart rate. Ideally, you should do this when you first wake up in the morning. Now measure your heart rate during different types of activities. What is it when you’re reading quietly? When you’re walking or doing chores around the house? Finally, measure your heart rate while you are exercising. Are you hitting your target zone for effective cardiovascular exercise? You can determine your target zone by following these directions: