Heart Rate Lowering

TheOriginalPancake
TheOriginalPancake Posts: 34 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
So I've been doing some pretty intense cardio the last week (at least, for me it was intense) - my heart rate was maxing at about 197 according to my HR monitor and the machines. Last night doing my normal routine (I actually was pushing myself a little harder than normal) I maxed at about 171. I was a little sore after I was done my workout, but I felt like I could hop back on and do another hour about 10 minutes later.

I break up my cardio into 3 20 minute sessions going as hard as I can for the 20 minutes and taking a short 5 minute rest in between. If my heart rate is lowering then I'm not burning as much calories? Right?

Replies

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    Calories burned is based on the work performed ... mass and distance moved. HR in a vacuum is a poor indicator of calories burned. Rest level, ambient temperature, hydration levels, etc all impact HR.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    TheOriginalPancake wrote: »
    I break up my cardio into 3 20 minute sessions going as hard as I can for the 20 minutes and taking a short 5 minute rest in between. If my heart rate is lowering then I'm not burning as much calories? Right?

    Your heart isn't burning the calories, it's supplying the oxygen to the organs allowing them to burn the fuel. Essentially HR is an indicator of calorie expenditure, in some circumstances, rather than a generator of it.

    The main thing is how much mass you move, and how far you move it.

  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    The heart is a muscle so it is burning calories technically but the rest of your statement is dead on. The brain burns 200 calories a day just being human
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  • Michael190lbs
    Michael190lbs Posts: 1,510 Member
    I would say because your becoming more conditioned but holy crap that is a high HR how tall are you and what do you weigh?
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    TheOriginalPancake wrote: »
    Michael190lbs wrote: »
    The heart is a muscle so it is burning calories technically but the rest of your statement is dead on. The brain burns 200 calories a day just being human

    So am I feeling less tired because I'm getting more oxygen? Or because my hearts working less. This stuff confuses me

    By easing back you're doing less work, so your system gets a rest.

    You'd get a similar net effect by working at a lower intensity and just keping going for an hour.

  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    TheOriginalPancake wrote: »
    Michael190lbs wrote: »
    The heart is a muscle so it is burning calories technically but the rest of your statement is dead on. The brain burns 200 calories a day just being human

    So am I feeling less tired because I'm getting more oxygen? Or because my hearts working less. This stuff confuses me

    You are feeling less tired because your aerobic max has increased and the work you are doing now represents a lower percentage of that maximum.
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