Interesting HRM results and NSV

FWIW, "intensity" has nothing to do with burn. It's about workload and weight. Perioid. So as you lose weight, you necessarily burn fewer cals during the same workout (though, in actuality, it's hard to exactly replicate a workout).

So, if in the video I am doing I have to slow up on some moves because I am out of breath or march in place while they complete an exercise because when I was 255 lbs and couldn't physically do what they were doing and now that I have lost 42 lbs and can do those moves and exercise at a higher intensity (faster pace), you don't think that I can burn more calories?

Yes, that's what I'm saying. Same exact exercise, same exact conditions, ONLY thing changed is body weight... yes, you'll burn fewer calories regardless of your effort/intensity.

That is what my HRM says. Now, I know that it could be off but, I also know that I am working harder. Is it a coincidence that the numbers are not going down as I have increased my intensity? Btw, I have been updating my weight in my HRM as I lose weight.

No, it's not a coincidence - HRMs are estimates based on a mathematical formula. They don't know what activity you are actually doing, they don't know the workload, so the guestimate.

I'm not trying to discourage you... obviously 42lbs is tremendous progress... I was merely trying to educate you about calorie burns.

You asked a question, stating that what you are seeing goes against what you've heard or read. I was explaining why.

Hey OP: I understand what you are saying. You're completing more of the workout because you are better able to do the exercises, and therefore you are noticing a better burn. Nice NSV!

Edited to add: Gotta love the edit feature, huh? Thankfully someone else decided to chime in to laugh at the joke made at the OP's expense...

No. I happen to think your wrong. If I am getting my heart rate up higher because I am working out harder how is it that I am not going to burn more calories? If the intensity (speed, free weight increase etc.) is increasing at a higher rate than the weight is coming off how do you figure that the calorie burn absolutely can not increase?

Because intensity has no bearing on calorie burn. Calorie burn is based on 2 things: workload (difficulty of the activity, if you will) and weight.

I think I said that already. If you don't believe me, then stop asking the question... you've obviously got your mind made up.

Hmmmm.... I'm also struggling to see how intensity has nothing to do with it.

If you did the same exercises, same video, same weight, same INTENSITY - then yes, as you lost weight you would slow down calorie burn. That I can agree with.

But if you ramp up your intensity because losing weight has allowed you to do so, and if you've increased your intensity to an extent that the delta in additional calories you burn by the increase of intensity offsets any calories you are not burning because you now have less weight to move around (i.e., you go down lower in your squats causing your muscles to work harder, if you push through and do all the jumping jacks or push ups or sit ups instead of taking random 5-10 second breaks, etc).... then you can still burn the same or more calories when you weigh less.

For example -

Let's say you walk for 30 minutes, and go super slow (pace of 2 miles per hour). You will burn maybe 100 calories.

Now let's say you have lost weight, and now you're able to still do the same 30 minutes, but you've increased your INTENSITY (or your pace) and go at a 4MPH pace. You'll burn about 300 cals.

That's why HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is such a big deal and will increase your burn and your fat loss - because intensity DOES matter.

Don't take my word for it - google it for yourself.... here's some supporting articles i found:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1677 (read #2)

"Intensity means everything in when it comes to burning fat mass. Duration definitely also plays a big part, but only when it comes to how you fine tune your workouts to your personal ability (ex. out of shape = shorter workout duration). " - quote from http://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/2509/does-duration-or-intensity-or-both-affect-how-many-calories-are-burned-in-a-card

For a more scientific explanation, check out this link:
http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article folder/caloricexp.html

I think you've done AWESOME - congrats on your weight loss!

Hmmmm.... I'm also struggling to see how intensity has nothing to do with it.

If you did the same exercises, same video, same weight, same INTENSITY - then yes, as you lost weight you would slow down calorie burn. That I can agree with.

But if you ramp up your intensity because losing weight has allowed you to do so, and if you've increased your intensity to an extent that the delta in additional calories you burn by the increase of intensity offsets any calories you are not burning because you now have less weight to move around (i.e., you go down lower in your squats causing your muscles to work harder, if you push through and do all the jumping jacks or push ups or sit ups instead of taking random 5-10 second breaks, etc).... then you can still burn the same or more calories when you weigh less.

For example -

Let's say you walk for 30 minutes, and go super slow (pace of 2 miles per hour). You will burn maybe 100 calories.

Now let's say you have lost weight, and now you're able to still do the same 30 minutes, but you've increased your INTENSITY (or your pace) and go at a 4MPH pace. You'll burn about 300 cals.

That's why HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) is such a big deal and will increase your burn and your fat loss - because intensity DOES matter.

Don't take my word for it - google it for yourself.... here's some supporting articles i found:

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness_articles.asp?id=1677 (read #2)

"Intensity means everything in when it comes to burning fat mass. Duration definitely also plays a big part, but only when it comes to how you fine tune your workouts to your personal ability (ex. out of shape = shorter workout duration). " - quote from http://fitness.stackexchange.com/questions/2509/does-duration-or-intensity-or-both-affect-how-many-calories-are-burned-in-a-card

For a more scientific explanation, check out this link:
http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article folder/caloricexp.html

I think you've done AWESOME - congrats on your weight loss!

I noticed this site has a lot of hate for circuit training/cardio. Yes, lifting heavy is great for you and you will achieve amazing results this way, but lots of people also have gotten amazing results with HIIT/circuit training as well. My feeling is as long as you are moving more and being more active and being realistic about what your workouts will give you in terms of how your body will look (like don't expect abs of steel if your workout is just cleaning/walking), it's awesome that you are doing what you are doing and keep at it.

I think you can compare this to being able to run at a certain speed... say a 10 minute mile... but then because you lose some pounds you are then able to run the same amount of time but at a 9 minute mile, thereby actually increasing the workload in the same time period and, thus, increasing the burn.

I noticed this site has a lot of hate for circuit training/cardio. Yes, lifting heavy is great for you and you will achieve amazing results this way, but lots of people also have gotten amazing results with HIIT/circuit training as well. My feeling is as long as you are moving more and being more active and being realistic about what your workouts will give you in terms of how your body will look (like don't expect abs of steel if your workout is just cleaning/walking), it's awesome that you are doing what you are doing and keep at it.

I'm glad you said that! I've noticed the same thing.... perhaps it's about misconceptions... I know you will burn more calories doing resistance training than you would cardio (better afterburn and increase in muscle which increases RMR) - so for that reason it's encouraged. BUUUUT - my personal opinion is that for overall health it's better to incorporate both. I want to be able to ride a bicycle for a couple hours on a beautiful day with my son.

For me - HIIT is my absolute favorite. A few years ago I lost quite a bit (70lbs) doing mostly HIIT and limited strength training. I found my endurance increased faster and i burned more calories that way.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/HealthBeauty/HighIntensityWorkout.htm