does a lower max HR mean you're fitter?

[2seas]

A couple of friends and I were discussing this in the pub the other day. From what I understand a lower max HR is indicitave of someone who's fitter. This is because:

"as you become fitter, over many months, your maximum heart rate tends to slow down as your heart responds to the training by becoming larger and pumping more blood.
This is beneficial, because at its highest rates, above 180 for example, the heart has difficulty refilling itself with blood, as opposed to pumping it out. In other words, the heart becomes a little less efficient at high rates".

(taken from runners world: "http://www.runnersworld.co.uk/staying-healthy/qa-does-a-high-hr-mean-a-better-heart/2728.html")

After a bit of googling it seems the BEST indicator of fitness is a low RESTING HR. However, does a low max HR also indicate a fitter person?

[RemainAllHoof]

Um. You could argue that if you're fitter, you can RAISE your Max HR to improve circulation to fuel the muscles etc and training will do this by improving the physiology to include the heart's ability to fill up (if that is a concern).

Edit: just read the article; am not arguing with no professors.

[Caesar9]

I was always under the impression that the lower your resting HR is is a better indicator of fitness aswell as how quickly your HR returns to resting after exercise. Your max HR is usually worked out by subtracting your age from 220 although as far as I'm aware that isn't set in stone and is only a guide.
I can see the point in the article though aswell. I presume its like a High powered car will cruise at 80mph with less effort than a small car.

[theshrew]

From my own experience id say the lower it is the fitter you are. Both while you rest or working.

Ive only recently started doing excercise after doing pretty much nothing for 15+ years added with beer swilling and smoking.

The first thing i did was Swimming. The first time i went i could feel my heart going like a good en, i was out of breath had to stop a fair few times (only for a few seconds each) When i had finnished showered got dressed i could still feel my heart rate was high when i was driving back to work.

After a month or so of swimming + other gym stuff this isnt the case. I now swim at least half a mile more if i have time. I go further, faster and push harder everytime i go. I would say its only when im really going for it my heart is at the rate it was when i first started and its defo back to normal quicker when ive finished.

Its also about bit lower on the hr monitor in the gym when im running. The first time i took a reading i thought it was going to blow the thing up !

[goldblum]

' does a lower max HR mean you're fitter?' No,it would mean your heart is shutting down,slowly.

'does a low resting heart rate mean you're fit? Yes,if you exercise.It's one element of cardiac fitness.Another is how quickly your HR returns to a normal level

after vigorous exercise.