Ideally, your resting heart rate should be taken in the morning right when you wake up. It should always be taken at the same time every day, and before you have consumed any caffeine or stimulants.
Why take your resting heart rate?
Your resting heart rate will indicate your current cardiovascular health, training zone, and also provide a benchmark for progress. Men and women have slightly different heart rates due to physiology.
How to take your resting heart rate:
First, locate your pulse by placing your index and middle fingers over your neck via the carotid artery, or the inside of your wrist via the radial artery.
Radial Artery Location Carotid Artery Location
Apply minimal pressure – only enough to feel your pulse – otherwise you may inadvertently change your natural pulse rate. Using either a clock or a stopwatch to keep time, count the number of pulses you feel over a 30 second period, then multiply that number by two. Record the number final number, this will be your beats per minute.
Below are a number of charts that will indicate your current cardiovascular level via heart rate:
*Keep in mind that heart rate for women during pregnancy will greatly increase, and varies from woman to woman.