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Higher elevation = higher burn?

reddaddie
reddaddie Posts: 121 Member
edited February 7 in Fitness and Exercise
took the family up into the Sierras for a day trip. We went from the valley 100 ft elevation to the lake at 5,500 ft elevation. On our walk I noticed heavier breathing and the heart thumping harder.

Question is do you think I burned more calories than I would have at home?

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Replies

  • jpace00
    jpace00 Posts: 55
    According to all the information I can find...not really. You are breathing heavier because of a lack of oxygen in the air you're breathing. So other then the increased activity of the muscles related to breathing working harder to try to take in the needed oxygen, all of the rest of your muscles are working at the same intensity and burning the same calories.

    There is however some evidence that suggests that higher altitude environments generally leads to a lower caloric intake.
  • reddaddie
    reddaddie Posts: 121 Member
    that is what I thought but if I had on a HRM that would have been fun.
This discussion has been closed.

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