HRM use- question about training programs

Robin1117

I'm confused about training programs on HRM's and figured since Polar seems to be the brand most talked about on this site, maybe someone on MFP could help. When setting up a training program for our HRM (I have the FT60), we are asked whether we want to lose weight, improve fitness or maximize it.

I'm on maintenance, I do not plan on losing weight anymore, so after a few weeks breezing past my goals on "improve" I put it to Maximize fitness. After months of killing myself for 6 hours and getting lots of cute little trophies for making my goals, I am rewarded with an updated training session for 6 1/2 hours and a few hundred more calories more to burn each week. I really don't know why though--do people who exercise really well keep having to push for more, more, more, or could we go down to a more moderate "improve" fitness without any problems?

Just wondering if anyone is clued in to how these training programs are created and then updated, or what the thought is on maximizing fitness vs. just improving it?? I have checked the Polar site and there really isn't an explanation, and the instruction manuals do not go into any depth.

thanks for any help provided!