Question about HR

MissAnjy
MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I have a Polar FT4 HRM that i use for every single workout. I love it and it's always given me an accurate reading. I just finished the 30 day shred a couple weeks back and did each level for 10 days. I wore my HRM the entire workout. Everyday that I did the workout, the calories burned would come up within 5-10 calories of the day before, etc. I knew days when it would be higher/lower depending on how hard i pushed myself.

Today I did JM's NMTZ for the first time and by the time I was finished, my HRM gave me a reading of 614 calories burned. Now, I trust my HRM, it obviously knows my HR (and i watched it through the whole workout). What i'm wondering is, how come most people who do this workout are burning in the 300 range & mine was 614? I'm 5'10 and I weigh 155lbs currently. I'm working on the last 10lbs. I know my HR elevates very quickly, and stays elevated. My HRM target zone says 127-166 and my HR during this workout was in the 170s and 180s the entire time.

What i'm wondering is, is that healthy? Is it healthy for my HR to be that high when my target is much lower? Forgive me if this is a bonehead question. I'm just wondering why I'm burning so much more than what others have burned doing the same program. Any ideas?

Replies

  • liscar
    liscar Posts: 311 Member
    curious on replies.....,my heart elevates really fast and then it just stays high --- it is not uncommon for me to be trying my best to keep it at 170 while on a jog ---- it feels better at 160, I hike in the 140's.....I throw up at 176
  • whittrusty
    whittrusty Posts: 533 Member
    I like to keep my heart rate no lower than 150 throughout the entire workout. Depending on how difficult the workout is, it will often get up into 160-170s. I think that is a good place to be. You won't be doing any harm unless you start to feel badly. As long as you're feeling good (tired, obviously, but good) you're fine to not stick with your "set" heart rate. The higher your heart rate, the more calories you burn. I find high intensity workouts are much more effective than those that are less than intense. I always work hard to "leave it all in the gym"!
  • HawkeyeGuy
    HawkeyeGuy Posts: 183
    Whoa! I'm guessing you in your 20's? Your HR for a workout is way too high...you're pushing into your VO2 Max threshhold. Don't get me wrong, doing threhhold workouts have their place, but to be there continuously is not an appropriate long term workout regimen. You're going to be breaking down more muscle, and using it as a source of fuel at this level...blowing through any glycogen stores quickly, and simply bypassing fat stores. In my opinion, this workout may help in losing weight, but it is not helping you get fit.

    For instance, I have a resting heart rate in the mid-40's, and a workout heartrate (steady pace work) in the 130's, which is where I get both the most cardio improvement and fat burn. I take it higher occasionally to work on my speed and LA and V02 max, but not on a consistent long-term basis. Do some additional research on HRM training and get into the right zones for you...this is NOT the way to go about it.

    It's hard for me to type this, as most people I work with on here I have to motivate to go faster, and push themselves harder...you need to keep the drive going, but tame the beast - and you'll get better results.
  • Nataliethin81
    Nataliethin81 Posts: 315
    170's-180's is definitely high. I think I hit 170 at a couple points in a few different circuits but I maintained overall between 130-145. I'm really not sure if it's bad for you though..
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,375 Member
    170's-180's is definitely high. I think I hit 170 at a couple points in a few different circuits but I maintained overall between 130-145. I'm really not sure if it's bad for you though..

    Ditto. It will spike up to 170 or so, but usually I maintain something more in the 130's.
  • HawkeyeGuy
    HawkeyeGuy Posts: 183
    It is NOT good for you. Interval training is fine (i.e. hitting upper threshholds and then allowing your body to recover, known as HIIT, fartlek, etc), but staying in this high of an HR zone for prolonged periods does NOT burn fat nor glycogen stores (if it does hit your glycogen, it will be depleted quickly), it will catabolize protein (i.e. MUSCLE). You'll lose weight...but you'll have a higher bodyfat percentage in the long run, and less muscle. That's NOT the look you want in your swimsuit...
    I'm really not sure if it's bad for you though..
  • MissAnjy
    MissAnjy Posts: 2,480 Member
    Whoa! I'm guessing you in your 20's? Your HR for a workout is way too high...you're pushing into your VO2 Max threshhold. Don't get me wrong, doing threhhold workouts have their place, but to be there continuously is not an appropriate long term workout regimen. You're going to be breaking down more muscle, and using it as a source of fuel at this level...blowing through any glycogen stores quickly, and simply bypassing fat stores. In my opinion, this workout may help in losing weight, but it is not helping you get fit.

    For instance, I have a resting heart rate in the mid-40's, and a workout heartrate (steady pace work) in the 130's, which is where I get both the most cardio improvement and fat burn. I take it higher occasionally to work on my speed and LA and V02 max, but not on a consistent long-term basis. Do some additional research on HRM training and get into the right zones for you...this is NOT the way to go about it.

    It's hard for me to type this, as most people I work with on here I have to motivate to go faster, and push themselves harder...you need to keep the drive going, but tame the beast - and you'll get better results.

    yes sir, i'm 25 years old. My resting heart rate (what it is when i first push the start button whilst just standing there not having started doing anything yet) is between 95-100.

    Like, I don't TRY to push hard hard hard and max myself out. If I do a set of jumping jacks, my HR is in the 160's (which is apparently my max) but that's just my warmup. I do moves like "skaters" & my HR will be in the 170s. It's crazy! Could having a higher HR be in genetics at all? My sister does a cardio routine & she burned 700-750 calories in 1 hour & told me her HR was in the 170s and 180s the entire workout as well.
  • Nataliethin81
    Nataliethin81 Posts: 315
    It is NOT good for you. Interval training is fine (i.e. hitting upper threshholds and then allowing your body to recover, known as HIIT, fartlek, etc), but staying in this high of an HR zone for prolonged periods does NOT burn fat nor glycogen stores (if it does hit your glycogen, it will be depleted quickly), it will catabolize protein (i.e. MUSCLE). You'll lose weight...but you'll have a higher bodyfat percentage in the long run, and less muscle. That's NOT the look you want in your swimsuit...
    I'm really not sure if it's bad for you though..

    Thanks for explaining!!
  • givprayz
    givprayz Posts: 328
    If you go back to the old workout, does your heartrate stay in the 130's-140's? If you can't exercise without spiking this high, see your doctor before you workout any more. If it is a factor of this particular workout, then take it easier or quit it entirely. I have chronic tachycardia, and if I miss my med and workout, I hit the 180's-190's, not good! 70-90% of max, never more, and never extended time beyond 80%.
  • whittrusty
    whittrusty Posts: 533 Member
    It is NOT good for you. Interval training is fine (i.e. hitting upper threshholds and then allowing your body to recover, known as HIIT, fartlek, etc), but staying in this high of an HR zone for prolonged periods does NOT burn fat nor glycogen stores (if it does hit your glycogen, it will be depleted quickly), it will catabolize protein (i.e. MUSCLE). You'll lose weight...but you'll have a higher bodyfat percentage in the long run, and less muscle. That's NOT the look you want in your swimsuit...

    I can't speak to the science of it, but based on my own personal experience this has not been true for me. My personal trainer takes my body fat percentage and measurements weekly. Over the past 10 months of working out with HR around 150-170 throughout the workout, I have consistently lost weight and body fat, while gaining muscle. I have lost 32 lbs, gone from 35.8% body fat to 27.3% and lost tons of inches.

    In my opinion, you should be more concerned about building endurance and aerobic ability than staying within the "fat burning" HR zone.
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