Question on Fat Burn vs. Fitness Burn

Hi there! I have an HRM which tracks the %age of fitness and %age of fat burn that I have each workout. I have found (and read in the directions) that you will receive a higher fat burn if you do activities for a longer period of time and a lower intensity. For example, a long slow jog versus intervals (sprint, walk, repeat).

For weight loss I think you really need both. To tone your body and build muscle, high intensity workouts are best (intervals, strength training, etc). However I'm a true believer that longer and lower intensity workouts are great because I typically burn more calories during these sessions.

Good Luck!

How do you achieve the majority of your calories burned as a "fat burn?" Inevitably, my HRM has a 90% fitness burn / 10% fat burn. Being heavier, I would think I'd want a higher fat burn vs. fitness burn. How do I change it?

by doing very low intensity exercise you burn more fat as a %. However, if you ramp up the intensity, you burn more fat in total.

low intesnity might mean a 30 minute walk at 2.5 mph. You might burn 150 calories doing this with 70% of those from fat. Thus you burn 105 calories from fatty acids.

However, do 30 minutes of a much higher intensity that gets you to 90% MHR and you might burn 300 Kcals during that time at 50% from fat. Thus you just burned off 150 calories from fatty acids.

edit: btw....those numbers are just made up, I'm not an exercise physiologist or certified trainer....this is just how I understand it to be.

You must ignore any "fat burn %" numbers on an HRM. Even if the calorie numbers are remotely in the ball park, the "fat burn %" numbers are a complete fabrication. They have NO basis in reality.

And, to top it off, even if they WERE accurate (which they are not even remotely), the percent of fat (or even the absolute amount of fat) you "burn" during a workout has absolutely NO EFFECT on permanent loss of stored body fat.

This is something you should not spend another minute thinking about.

THIS.

It doesn't matter. Calories burned are calories burned.

You must ignore any "fat burn %" numbers on an HRM. Even if the calorie numbers are remotely in the ball park, the "fat burn %" numbers are a complete fabrication. They have NO basis in reality.

And, to top it off, even if they WERE accurate (which they are not even remotely), the percent of fat (or even the absolute amount of fat) you "burn" during a workout has absolutely NO EFFECT on permanent loss of stored body fat.

Hi there! I have an HRM which tracks the %age of fitness and %age of fat burn that I have each workout. I have found (and read in the directions) that you will receive a higher fat burn if you do activities for a longer period of time and a lower intensity. For example, a long slow jog versus intervals (sprint, walk, repeat).

For weight loss I think you really need both. To tone your body and build muscle, high intensity workouts are best (intervals, strength training, etc). However I'm a true believer that longer and lower intensity workouts are great because I typically burn more calories during these sessions.

Good Luck!

Wrong. A higher % of cals from fat maybe, but way less total cals, and less cals from fat when all is said and done (assuming same duration of exercise).

OP: Ignore zones, train for improving fitness and your body will follow along.

Forgive me if I'm off base but I've been having difficulty losing fat/building muscle. I eat pretty well, high complex carb, high protein diet. I speed walk 4 miles daily and have added HIIT and weight lifting every other day. I've been doing this for 7 weeks with out any noticeable results. I'd appreciate any help what so ever. I'd like to lose about 5" of fat off my waist and a couple inches off each of the thighs and arms.

This is something you should not spend another minute thinking about.

This comment makes me ...... bothered (for lack of a better word).
Not because you said it, but it bothers me this kind of mentality is all over the place. I am trying to get into the best shape of my life. On every treadmill and bike it has those stupid graphs that are generated if it measures your heart rate. This is advice that people give to those who want to lose fat weight. I don't have a HRM, and don't plan on getting one anytime soon, just because I can gauge my intensity on my own.

Short story, I gained 25 lbs over the past 4 years moving from construction to a desk job. Back when I when I was working construction I was pretty fit and was lifting in conjunction with my calorie burning job. I hit a plateau lifting, and I ran on the treadmill every day I hit the weights. I was told by some "personal trainer" to cut back on the cardio because that was contributing to my inability to get out of my plateau due to it "possibly burning my muscle fiber to fuel my cardio". On top of my treadmill running, I was running 4 miles a few times a week at night. I was taking protein, supplements, etc...


Fast forward to today, and now I have the dreaded lower back fat spare tire. I am not nearly as strong as I once was due to a long lapse in time with no physical activity, and also due to shoulder surgery. My new years resolution was to cut back on the home brew (avid beer enthusiast) and get back into shape (aka, lose the fat and strengthen up).

Right now my focus is lowering my calorie count and exercising 5 - 6 times a week. I have done well so far, but haven't lost too much weight. I am perplexed if I should do spin class, or not. Should I run on the treadmill? Or is that going to "burn my muscles" if I do it too intensely?

I have been walking on the treadmill for 30 min 4 times a week at 10.0 incline and 3.0 mph. I go mountain biking on the weekend and go anywhere from 7-14 miles a ride.

Does it not matter? I mean, I understand everyone's motivational advice, but is there any scientific information that can help back this up, or links to any articles on the subject matter? If it really doesn't matter, or its marginal, I am going to start running on the treadmill instead.

Thanks in advance for the advice and information.

Forgive me if I'm off base but I've been having difficulty losing fat/building muscle. I eat pretty well, high complex carb, high protein diet. I speed walk 4 miles daily and have added HIIT and weight lifting every other day. I've been doing this for 7 weeks with out any noticeable results. I'd appreciate any help what so ever. I'd like to lose about 5" of fat off my waist and a couple inches off each of the thighs and arms.

Your diary is closed so I can't look at what you're eating.

But if you've been at it for 7 weeks with 0 weight loss, you're eating too much.

Also, you say you've been lifting but have no results. Have you gotten stronger? What kind of lifting are you doing?

This is something you should not spend another minute thinking about.

This comment makes me ...... bothered (for lack of a better word).
Not because you said it, but it bothers me this kind of mentality is all over the place. I am trying to get into the best shape of my life. On every treadmill and bike it has those stupid graphs that are generated if it measures your heart rate. This is advice that people give to those who want to lose fat weight. I don't have a HRM, and don't plan on getting one anytime soon, just because I can gauge my intensity on my own.

Short story, I gained 25 lbs over the past 4 years moving from construction to a desk job. Back when I when I was working construction I was pretty fit and was lifting in conjunction with my calorie burning job. I hit a plateau lifting, and I ran on the treadmill every day I hit the weights. I was told by some "personal trainer" to cut back on the cardio because that was contributing to my inability to get out of my plateau due to it "possibly burning my muscle fiber to fuel my cardio". On top of my treadmill running, I was running 4 miles a few times a week at night. I was taking protein, supplements, etc...


Fast forward to today, and now I have the dreaded lower back fat spare tire. I am not nearly as strong as I once was due to a long lapse in time with no physical activity, and also due to shoulder surgery. My new years resolution was to cut back on the home brew (avid beer enthusiast) and get back into shape (aka, lose the fat and strengthen up).

Right now my focus is lowering my calorie count and exercising 5 - 6 times a week. I have done well so far, but haven't lost too much weight. I am perplexed if I should do spin class, or not. Should I run on the treadmill? Or is that going to "burn my muscles" if I do it too intensely?

I have been walking on the treadmill for 30 min 4 times a week at 10.0 incline and 3.0 mph. I go mountain biking on the weekend and go anywhere from 7-14 miles a ride.

Does it not matter? I mean, I understand everyone's motivational advice, but is there any scientific information that can help back this up, or links to any articles on the subject matter? If it really doesn't matter, or its marginal, I am going to start running on the treadmill instead.

Thanks in advance for the advice and information.

It's a very good question. I'll post the answer right below

You must ignore any "fat burn %" numbers on an HRM. Even if the calorie numbers are remotely in the ball park, the "fat burn %" numbers are a complete fabrication. They have NO basis in reality.

And, to top it off, even if they WERE accurate (which they are not even remotely), the percent of fat (or even the absolute amount of fat) you "burn" during a workout has absolutely NO EFFECT on permanent loss of stored body fat.

Truthfully, I HATE running.

Then don't do it. There's no reason in the world to, especially if your joints are already suffering.

I enjoy biking, but I cannot go more than 1 MAYBE 2 times a week.

Then go biking 1-2 times a week.

See how easy that was? Forget the treadmill. Ride your bike. Continue lifting. Run a calorie deficit. Eat enough protein and lots of veggies.

That's about all you really need to worry about.

Forgive me if I'm off base but I've been having difficulty losing fat/building muscle. I eat pretty well, high complex carb, high protein diet. I speed walk 4 miles daily and have added HIIT and weight lifting every other day. I've been doing this for 7 weeks with out any noticeable results. I'd appreciate any help what so ever. I'd like to lose about 5" of fat off my waist and a couple inches off each of the thighs and arms.

Your diary is closed so I can't look at what you're eating.

But if you've been at it for 7 weeks with 0 weight loss, you're eating too much.

Also, you say you've been lifting but have no results. Have you gotten stronger? What kind of lifting are you doing?

I'm new to this forum so I'm not sure how to open my diary. I do not count calories, I simply eat when I'm hungry, how complex carbs and proteins. I do not eat any junk food, breads, cereals, candy, cakes etc. I generally consume under 2000 calories a day. I am feeling stronger. When I started I couldn't hold a plank for 30 seconds, I can do so easily now and have included many variations. I do not have any fancy weights--I am using a 6lb dumbell. I am doing exercises called full body exercises, I do 12 reps (3 sets) which move both the lower and upper body. I certainly feel better but I have not lost any inches and am getting pretty down because of it. I run daily because I love it.