Better results after HRM?

JaimeBrown5

Has anyone noticed any changes from how much they were losing before they got a HRM to after when using the calories burned according to the HRM vs. the gym machines/MFP?

I have concerns because the HRM wants me to stay in the best zone but I feel like I could be going so much faster and harder that I'm not getting the same workout when I'm going by what the HRM suggests. Is this really going to work to my benefit?

sleepytexan

Has anyone noticed any changes from how much they were losing before they got a HRM to after when using the calories burned according to the HRM vs. the gym machines/MFP?

I have concerns because the HRM wants me to stay in the best zone but I feel like I could be going so much faster and harder that I'm not getting the same workout when I'm going by what the HRM suggests. Is this really going to work to my benefit?

There is benefit to working outside the aerobic zone, but it does not burn calories. Short spurts into the anaerobic zone increase your cardiovascular endurance, your ability to recover more quickly and your ability to surge, as would be necessary to finish a race or escape from someone bad chasing you.

Anaerobic exercise is useful, however will not burn calories efficiently, and some say not at all.

Edit: I don't wear an HRM anymore. I find it more annoying than useful.

blessings.

kwehkweh

I wish I was more of a professional on this because I don't go by my target zones. I know I would get better results if I stayed mostly in a fat burning zone but that's sometimes not hard enough for me. I can understand the frustration of wanting ot go harder.

DawnDawn2011

Has anyone noticed any changes from how much they were losing before they got a HRM to after when using the calories burned according to the HRM vs. the gym machines/MFP?

I have concerns because the HRM wants me to stay in the best zone but I feel like I could be going so much faster and harder that I'm not getting the same workout when I'm going by what the HRM suggests. Is this really going to work to my benefit?

There is benefit to working outside the aerobic zone, but it does not burn calories. Short spurts into the anaerobic zone increase your cardiovascular endurance, your ability to recover more quickly and your ability to surge, as would be necessary to finish a race or escape from someone bad chasing you.

Anaerobic exercise is useful, however will not burn calories efficiently, and some say not at all.

Edit: I don't wear an HRM anymore. I find it more annoying than useful.

blessings.

You give good advice! I am learning a lot from you! I am glad you are my friend : )

sleepytexan

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You give good advice! I am learning a lot from you! I am glad you are my friend : )
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aww thanks!

significance

Of course you still burn calories when you are over the recommended heart rate zone. You burn more than you burn at a lower heart rate, and you also increase your cardiovascular fitness. The main problem is that a greater proportion of the calories you burn come from muscle mass rather than fat. You probably still lose more fat than if you take it easier, but you risk losing even more muscle than fat. Reducing your muscle mass is counter-productive if your goal is to improve your looks or strength.

mjbrenner

I wish I was more of a professional on this because I don't go by my target zones. I know I would get better results if I stayed mostly in a fat burning zone but that's sometimes not hard enough for me. I can understand the frustration of wanting ot go harder.

My understanding is that the "Fat Burning Zone" is a big load of hooey. It simply exists as a place where people can generally work out longer and burn more calories, rather than working too fast and needing to stop early. If you can burn more calories by working harder, then I say go for it.

That said, if I am wrong, then I would love to be corrected.

JaimeBrown5

I read up on it a bit and found that the heart rate zones are what they are so that you are working your heart at the best exertion without putting it under more stress than it needs to achieve the same results. Which is fine, I feel like I got a workout, I just wasn't exhausted after like normal - I feel like I could still be productive after.

What I want to know is if people were going hard and then got a HRM monitor, followed the zones and found that they were losing faster/more efficiently than when they were going all out all the time....

Rayman79

Sorry I cant really answer your question, but I do have a HRM that gives me warnings when I go too far over or under the 'zone'. Personally I only use this when I'm running to keep me at the right sort of pace to make sure my effort will be sustainable for a long period of time.

As for getting beffter results from being in a specific 'fat burning' zone - garbage. It will usually mean you can sustain effort for longer, but if you are exercising for a finite period and you can work out at a higher heart rate you will still burn more calories than you will at a lower heart rate.

ingies2011

If you work out hard and really push yourself you will burn more calories, increase your cardiovascular fitness, get an exercise (sometimes called runners) high, and have a much greater afterburn effect, where your body continues to burn calories at a higher rate long after you finished exercising. All the more reason to give it your best shot.

Hence I'm going to body attack later.