General Questions

swall0810

For those that have a heart rate monitor:

When I first started working out I would burn 800-900 calories with no problem in an hour. This week, I feel like I working out harder and burning LESS calories. Sometimes not being able to break 500. What is the deal??

Second part of the question is:

I am losing inches every where but my middle (where I need to lose the most) What can I do to lose evenly? I feel like I have tiny thin legs and a cupcake middle. If my legs get any smaller its going to look terrible.

My routine is Every other day jog/walk 3 miles and elliptical = 1 hour cardio
on the in between days I do walking warm up and cool down and a "biggest looser circuit" which is weights and step aerobics. and then I work on ab machines. = 1 hour 10 mins

knra_grl

As you become more fit, you will burn less calories with your workouts so you need to increase the length or intensity if you want to burn the same amount.

You can't spot reduce, keep up with your program and it will happen eventually. I would rather lose around my belly also, but eventually it will catch up with the rest.

3dogsrunning

Has your weight changed? That will affect how many calories you are burning.
The other option is your HR is lower because you are getting fitter.
If you are the same weight, and doing the same intensity, you are burning the same calories. The issue with the HRM is it is basing it on your HR alone. As your VO2 max improves as you get fitter, your HR will go down. HRMs assume because you are working at a lower intensity and figure less calories. HRMs are set up based on averages and tend not to be as accurate for fitter individuals.
Does your HRM allow for you to adjust HR and VO2 settings?

A good explanation on the issue
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472


As for the inches - unfortunately our body decides where the inches come off, we can't. I tend to lose from the top down, my legs being the last to lean out. All you can do is keep maintaining a deficit and eventually your middle will catch up.

3dogsrunning

As you become more fit, you will burn less calories with your workouts so you need to increase the length or intensity if you want to burn the same amount.

You can't spot reduce, keep up with your program and it will happen eventually. I would rather lose around my belly also, but eventually it will catch up with the rest.

You really don't. Calories burned is weight x intensity. Two people, one very fit one not, of the same weigh, doing the same activity, at the same intensity will burn the same calories. The issue is with HRMs and how they are set up to estimate calories burned. More accurate ones will allow for Hr and VO2 adjustment to reflect fitness levels.

besaro

you might need to readjust the figures you entered in to your HRM originally; weight, age, resting heart rate.

swall0810

Thank you for that article, It helped me understand a lot! My weight has changed a little. I lost 12lbs, but it takes a LOT of hard working out to get my heart rate up to my max and to keep it there. I try to keep it at 171 and its a struggle. before I would have a hard time keeping it down, so I guess Im just getting in better shape. THanks!

Has your weight changed? That will affect how many calories you are burning.
The other option is your HR is lower because you are getting fitter.
If you are the same weight, and doing the same intensity, you are burning the same calories. The issue with the HRM is it is basing it on your HR alone. As your VO2 max improves as you get fitter, your HR will go down. HRMs assume because you are working at a lower intensity and figure less calories. HRMs are set up based on averages and tend not to be as accurate for fitter individuals.
Does your HRM allow for you to adjust HR and VO2 settings?

A good explanation on the issue
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472


As for the inches - unfortunately our body decides where the inches come off, we can't. I tend to lose from the top down, my legs being the last to lean out. All you can do is keep maintaining a deficit and eventually your middle will catch up.

swall0810

As you become more fit, you will burn less calories with your workouts so you need to increase the length or intensity if you want to burn the same amount.

You can't spot reduce, keep up with your program and it will happen eventually. I would rather lose around my belly also, but eventually it will catch up with the rest.

Thanks for the response

swall0810

What is this deficit everyone is talking about?