Baby boomers that have started new walking programs should be aware and knowledgeable about raising the heart rate when walking. It is important that a fitness walking program does not turn into a series of slow saunters. When you begin a walking program, there will of course be a curve to advancing to power walking; however, creating awareness of one's heart rate and paying attention to when the heart rate has been raised is ultimately the fitness goal.

There are several pieces of equipment that allow one to check the heart rate when exercising. One of the most convenient methods is by using a watch that offers such features. There are several styles from which to select. However, it is important to find the piece of equipment with which one is comfortable, so that the importance and awareness of raising the heart rate when walking is easily recognizable.
The Timex 30-Lap Ironman Triathlon Heart Rate Monitor is an ideal choice. Features of the monitor include the following; waterproof, preset feature for desired heart rate, alarm notification when the rate is not met, easy to read display of average heart rate, display of the time spent in the desired heart rate zone, calories burned, recovery heart rate timer, maximum heart rate zone calculation, digital transmission, 30-lap memory and more. The retail price for the Timex 30-Lap Ironman Triathlon Heart Rate Monitor is approximately $79.99.

If you're looking for a piece of equipment that is a little bit more sophisticated, a great suggestion is the Timex Ironman Bodylink System, which provides a 100-lap memory recall of system data. Other features include digital transmission, a heart rate feature inclusive of average heart rate, time in zone, four linked interval timers, recovery rate, max heart rate display and calculation. There are many more extensive features such as alarms, summary mode and interval timers. The retail price for the Timex Ironman Bodylink System is $300.

No matter how simple or complicated the piece of equipment, the key is in purchasing equipment that provides the necessary information regarding one's heart rate when walking.