To increase heart rate or not to increase heart rate

Fitzgeraldguy
Fitzgeraldguy Posts: 48
edited September 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi,

Being hearing a couple of different things at the gym regarding weight loss and heart rate control. Some people say that it is better to maintain a steady heart rate while doing cardio...steady enough for you to have a conversation while exercising - aiding in the burn of more calories. Yet, other people state that it is best to have an elevated heart rate while doing cardio to burn more calories.

So, which one has worked for you? Noticed results with one of the two?

Best.

Replies

  • Saruman_w
    Saruman_w Posts: 1,531 Member
    I'm no expert but I hear elevated heart rate helps with metabolism and other stuff. I try to keep my HR at around 150 - 160 when I do cardio. Depends on your age too
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    My spin teacher said you could vary your heart rate.. get it to the max and let ut go back down and then get it back up every few minutes
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Hi,

    Being hearing a couple of different things at the gym regarding weight loss and heart rate control. Some people say that it is better to maintain a steady heart rate while doing cardio...steady enough for you to have a conversation while exercising - aiding in the burn of more calories. Yet, other people state that it is best to have an elevated heart rate while doing cardio to burn more calories.

    So, which one has worked for you guys? Noticed results with one of the two?

    Best.

    Depending on your goals, and what you want to accomplish fitness wise this will differ. That being said you will burn more calories at a higher HR, and hence lose more weight, all while improving your fitness.
  • cjjones007
    cjjones007 Posts: 602
    My spin teacher said you could vary your heart rate.. get it to the max and let ut go back down and then get it back up every few minutes

    Keeping your heart rate at your 85-90% of Max will keep you in the "Fat burning zone" they say, but the High Intensity Interval training (HIIT) method is to raise your heart rate up for, say 2 minutes, take it to a 30% (for example) for 1 or 2 then at 60%-70% for 1-2 minutes - this will help you burn fat and calories for sure, AND it helps your heart muscle work back and forth - they say it helps to build a stronger heart...
    Personally - I find I'm burning every bit as many calories with HIIT as I do with steady - and in truth, I think HIIT is harder and works the muscles differently because I'm forcing them to different levels all the time...
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    My spin teacher said you could vary your heart rate.. get it to the max and let ut go back down and then get it back up every few minutes

    Keeping your heart rate at your 85-90% of Max will keep you in the "Fat burning zone" they say, but the High Intensity Interval training (HIIT) method is to raise your heart rate up for, say 2 minutes, take it to a 30% (for example) for 1 or 2 then at 60%-70% for 1-2 minutes - this will help you burn fat and calories for sure, AND it helps your heart muscle work back and forth - they say it helps to build a stronger heart...
    Personally - I find I'm burning every bit as many calories with HIIT as I do with steady - and in truth, I think HIIT is harder and works the muscles differently because I'm forcing them to different levels all the time...

    Fat burning zone is really a crock of S%&t, that being said fat burning zone is more like 50-65% of max HR not 85-90%, that is the cardio zone, and it burns a ton more calories than the fat burning zone.

    I myself like training in the cardio zone (although I don't focus on where my HR is) and I also do HIIT.
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