exercise intensity

totaldetermination
totaldetermination Posts: 1,184 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,
I have 2 options that I consider for my exercise:

OPTION 1.
Put on my hrm and go to the gym, set the treadmill to adjust automatically based on my heart rate, which is set to be in the weightloss zone for my age. According to the treadmill I burn about 500 calories in an hour this way.

OPTION 2.
go for a walk outdoors - for about an hour and a half to two hours until my fitbit or runtastic say I've burnt about 500 calories.

option 1 is an effort that I make to get results, option 2 is something I enjoy doing.

I would rather do option 2, but calories aside, I wonder whether there are any benefits to having my heart at the higher rate for an hour. option 2 is much 'easier'. It just takes longer.

For example will option 1 improve my fitness levels more than option 2 ?

I know that I should find an exercise that I enjoying doing, but I am happy to motivate myself to do something if I know that there are benefits in doing it.

Thanks

Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Forget the weight loss or fat burning zone. In terms of weight loss it's the total number of calories burned that counts, not the fuel source (at lower intensity you do burn proportionately more calories from fat but a far lower number of calories overall)

    Having your heart rate elevated will provide you with better cardiovascular fitness but any regular physical activity is better for you than sitting on the couch.

    Why not mix them up? Save the treadmill for rainy days or the winter and enjoy the great outdoors when the sun is shining? (Or even better get a pair of cross country skis / snowshoes and get outside all year 'round!)
  • ME0172
    ME0172 Posts: 200
    Forget the weight loss or fat burning zone. In terms of weight loss it's the total number of calories burned that counts, not the fuel source (at lower intensity you do burn proportionately more calories from fat but a far lower number of calories overall)

    Having your heart rate elevated will provide you with better cardiovascular fitness

    This.
  • MelStren
    MelStren Posts: 457 Member
    I say do what you enjoy, you are more likely to stick with it for the long term.
  • marian4marian
    marian4marian Posts: 94 Member
    :flowerforyou: i'm 60 i am no fitness expert but i do know a thing or two about what i will stick with and that is anything i enjoy. i think there is so much more benefit to our 'whole being' when we get outdoors. exercise, then, becomes more than just burning calories.
    going for hike, for me, is much more than that. even a city walk turns into a bit of socializing (and i love to chat up dogs i see on my path!!!) i know that happens in gyms too but i just can't trade in that fresh air...what i really am trying to say is something about the 'big picture'....
  • rides4sanity
    rides4sanity Posts: 1,269 Member
    Why not add some faster segments to the first half of your walk, then relax and cool down at the end? Get the elevated HR and the joy of being outdoors...
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Personally, I would not do a heart rate interactive program, unless you change the target heart rate for the second half of the workout. Your HR will naturally "drift" upwards during a longer workout, even with no change in intensity. It's due to decreased pumping action by the heart, increased body temp, and some water loss.

    This increase in HR is NOT accompanied by an increase in calories burned. So an HRM will overestimate calories. The machine program will assume you are over your target and decrease workload--meaning you will burn fewer calories.

    Better to use a workload-based program rather than one controlled by heart rate.
  • Loralrose
    Loralrose Posts: 203
    Why not combine the two and go for a jog outdoors?

    Do the thing you like. Not only will you stick with it better, you'll feel better from being more relaxed.
  • totaldetermination
    totaldetermination Posts: 1,184 Member
    Personally, I would not do a heart rate interactive program, unless you change the target heart rate for the second half of the workout. Your HR will naturally "drift" upwards during a longer workout, even with no change in intensity. It's due to decreased pumping action by the heart, increased body temp, and some water loss.

    I've never heard that before. But it makes sense, and is something that I had noticed but couldn't explain so thought I was imagining it. Are there any stats on how long until it drifts up, how much by etc so I can adjust the heart rate as I go ?

    I like the heart rate interactive program for motivational reasons. I have no choice in the speed / incline and can't convince myself its too hard, so am not tempted to slow down. works for me !

    Also, since the calories are being calculated by the treadmill, and not the HRM does that mean they are likely to still be accurate ?

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