How important is target heart rate?

Mom2eio
Mom2eio Posts: 25
in Fitness and Exercise
So my goal is weight loss and based on my resting heart rate, my target heart rate for weight loss is 129-138 but it seems like when I get to that zone I am hardly working out. I feel like I am getting a workout when I am closer to 150 bpm. If I push myself to where I feel like I am getting a workout am I defeating the purpose of weight loss?

Replies

  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    1: Everybody has a different maximum HR. The 220 - Age formula is a rough approximation and can easily vary by +/- 10 bpm. If you aren't being stressed at 129 - 138, you are probably different.

    2: Weight loss is about calories coming in being less than calories being burned, not a HR.

    3: Whilst doing aerobic exercise, your body doesn't magically stop consuming calories if your HR goes too high. When your HR is low, your body mixes fat with oxygen to make fuel. When it gets high, it begins utilizing glycogen as well. When it gets really, really high the fuel is almost entirely glycogen. But then your body will need to replenish all that glycogen, so all those carbs are free carbs, basically :)
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    Target heart rate isn't very important at all.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • arrseegee
    arrseegee Posts: 575 Member
    129-138 is probably your target 'fat burning zone'. As vorgas said, you are still burning calories when it is higher zones, and actually more calories, but the focus of exercise in this zone is improving aerobic fitness.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
    From everything I've read; the "fat burning zone" merely means you are not burning so many calories from other sources.
    It's also likely you can keep it going for extended periods.
    If you exercise at a higher heart rate, first off you shouldn't burn less fat. However you may also burn off other energy stores. If you are eating similarly, those energy stores won't be available for other things. If you are in a deficit, then some of the missing energy is going to come from fat again, later.

    So, push as hard as you want - just don't do what a friend of mine used to do - go for 2 minutes at 97% intensity, then give up!

Categories