inCYSTer Christine Marquette tweeted this interesting press release from Northwestern University, describing a study in which the formula for calculating exercise heart rate for women has been adjusted. It's an important study, because the target rate using this formula is lower than the traditional formula lumping men and women together. If you've been aiming for that higher number, you've likely been overshooting your exercise intensity…and that keeps you from burning fat. It may also exacerbate carbohydrate cravings, since exercise above your target zone burns primarily carbohydrates. If you have PCOS, excessively intense exercising can provoke bulking up, which is more likely when you're going at it harder than you need to.
I went ahead and calculated the old versus new numbers at 80% of your age-based maximum heart rate, for all ages between 18 and 70, they're below for your reference.
Age Old Formula New Formula
18 162 134
19 161 133
20 160 132
21 159 132
22 158 131
23 157 130
24 157 130
25 156 129
26 155 128
27 154 127
28 154 127
29 153 126
30 152 125
31 151 125
32 150 124
33 150 123
34 149 122
35 148 122
36 147 121
37 146 120
38 146 120
39 145 119
40 144 118
41 143 118
42 142 117
43 142 116
44 141 115
45 140 115
46 139 114
47 138 113
48 138 113
49 137 112
50 136 111
51 135 111
52 134 110
53 134 109
54 133 108
55 132 108
56 131 107
57 130 106
58 129 106
59 129 105
60 128 104
61 127 103
62 126 103
63 126 102
64 125 101
65 124 101
66 123 100
67 122 99
68 122 99
69 121 98
70 120 97