Adjusting heart rate zones?

3foldchord

I just got a Fitbit Charge HR. I had used a chart to find the heart rate zones for my age and Fitbit seems to use the same zones. I think they may be off. My heart rate gets kinda fast easily. My age is 44F. My resting (sleeping, when I wake) is about 60. My "sitting in the couch reading" is about 75. 2 minutes going super slow on the elliptical machine is 155. Anything over that makes me dizzy and see spots...... anyway, according to the charts and Fitbit, my Fat burning zone is between 88-130, I think.,I get to 110 just walking to the mail box. I'm sure I can't be in the fat burning zone just getting the mail or making dinner. Can I change Fitbit,,so,it doesn't start my fat burning zone until around 115 BPM?

3foldchord

Just did more research . Apparently Fat Burning Zone for heart rate is kind of a myth, not really a big deal where in what zone I am. So, I will just stick to my original plan for HR monitor. .. keep my heart rate from getting too high (as it has a tendency to do then I get dizzy and see spots, etc)

heybales

The "fat burning" zone, prior to the myth of it being better fat burning workout - it was called Active Recovery HR zone - is valid and useful zone.

When you had a hard workout the body needs to repair from, and you are going to use the same muscles doing something say cardio now - stay in the Recovery "fat burning" zone to aid blood flow for healing, but not put another load on the same muscles trying to repair.

What's a myth is you stay in that zone to burn more fat. You burn higher % of fat because you are burning less calories though.
You burn same amount of fat but smaller % working harder because of burning more calories.

And then you view the workout in the scheme of the day - the bigger calorie burn means more of your next meal goes to refilling carb stores and you return to fat burning mode sooner post-meal.

But you are right, maxHR as most HRM's do it are based on 220-age - and you have more of a chance of being outside a 10 bpm range then being in it.
Sounds like you may have more of a diesel heart than race bike, it runs lower. Pure genetics, nothing to do with fitness level.

So you can indeed set a custom zone for where you'd like your aerobic zone to be, below that you know is recovery, and above that you know is tempo.

For other zone formula using your restingHR and other maxHR estimates - try this.

www.calculatenow.biz/sport/heart.php?

Also - if getting dizzy - it may not be because of HR going to high, unless you are just wheezing for breath also to get in enough oxygen - that's why the HR goes high - more O2.

If just dizzy and higher HR but not high breathing - you have other reason for dizzy.

Eating enough? Enough carbs? Workout at wrong time fasted? Medical issue for Dr?