treadmill/eliptical machine question!!! way curious!

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couggirl13
couggirl13 Posts: 4
in Fitness and Exercise
Hey all!
So, this is something i've wondered about for a while now....... I was working out tonight at the gym and I was on the eliptical and treadmill. I chose to do the fat burn program on both and for both machines it said that my target heart rate is 129. So this is what I'm wondering.... do you get the maximum weight loss/fat burn in that heart rate range that's on the machines or is it best to push yourself as hard as you can even though you will probably go up to the "cardio" or "peak high" heart rate ranges??????? I usually go as hard as I can but I thought I'd better make sure I'm doing this right! PLEASE get me in the loop if you know more info than I do on this subject! :smile:

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  • couggirl13
    couggirl13 Posts: 4
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    Hey all!
    So, this is something i've wondered about for a while now....... I was working out tonight at the gym and I was on the eliptical and treadmill. I chose to do the fat burn program on both and for both machines it said that my target heart rate is 129. So this is what I'm wondering.... do you get the maximum weight loss/fat burn in that heart rate range that's on the machines or is it best to push yourself as hard as you can even though you will probably go up to the "cardio" or "peak high" heart rate ranges??????? I usually go as hard as I can but I thought I'd better make sure I'm doing this right! PLEASE get me in the loop if you know more info than I do on this subject! :smile:
  • gady17
    gady17 Posts: 1
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    Hi,

    I'm no expert, but I believe that it is better to stay in your target heart rate zone and maybe do interval training (target heart rate zone , then a few minutes of 'peak high' and then back to target heart rate zone...) . I would still ask someone (a specialist), like your doctor or a trainer before working out to hard. I don't think pushing yourself to hard will end up giving you the result you want.

    Good luck
  • osmium
    osmium Posts: 107 Member
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    I had the same question this week as I just can't keep in my "target" heart rate zone without feeling like I'm doing nothing. I checked with one of my gym trainers and he told me to work as hard as I felt comfortable as it was better for me anyway. I'll be interested to read what the MFP experts say :smile:
  • tazzy
    tazzy Posts: 197
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    if you look at what jillian michaels advises in her books she recommends for ultimate fat loss to work out at 85% of your maximum heart rate for at least 30 mins and believe me that works you hard. interval training is great becuase you get your hr up then slow down but your hr stays up so as long as you raise your speed etc withing a few mins it probably will stay at about 85% sometimes easier than going all out for the whole time.

    Thats my thoughts on the subject.
  • jade3554
    jade3554 Posts: 2
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    I was acutally just reading about this in "Get With the Program" by Bob Greene. It's a 4 phase dieting and fitness book that I would highly recommend. It completly anwsers your question.
  • 9726172000
    9726172000 Posts: 428
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    To burn fat you actually need to be at around 85% at your max. heart rate atleast for 30 minutes ech time you excercise.
  • MisoSoup79
    MisoSoup79 Posts: 517
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    Well, you can burn fat at the lower target heart rate... BUT you will burn more if you push yourself to the cardio zone (85%). The lower zone is basically the minimum intensity you need to perform in order to see results. But the cardio zone both burns fat AND works your heart, so you'll get the benefits of both. If you want to improve your resting heart rate (a lower resting heart rate is typically a sign of heart health/efficiency) then you must train at the cardio level - 85%.

    I think they put the "fat burn" zone on the machines for lazy people who go in just to lose weight without caring about their heart health. OR for people who must start at the lowest intensity possible in order to see results because they are out of shape and lack endurance.
  • couggirl13
    couggirl13 Posts: 4
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    amazing! thanks for the info everyone, I feel much better about it now. :tongue: good luck to everyone with their weight loss!
  • hibbler22
    hibbler22 Posts: 339 Member
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    Well you can burn calories and some fat at your target heart rate, but try to aim higher to burn more fat, or do a few mins in target and some at a higher rate.
  • sherris
    sherris Posts: 112
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    when i was with the "curves" gym they told me to not go above 85% cuase ur body will start to take muscles not fat.....no expert i have no idea besides what they told me.......but that's what they said....we were supposed to slow it down till our hearts got back to the 70%-85% mark....

    anyone ever hear this???
  • MisoSoup79
    MisoSoup79 Posts: 517
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    Well, sometimes i find myself above that 85% mark and i slow down to get back down... I've never heard of the body using muscle just because the heart rate is high, but I can imagine that it's bad for the heart. I've had some scary moments where my heart rate jumps up to 200+BPM and I don't want to put that stress on my heart.

    I was in the Air Force when they transitioned from an annual "bike test" to a real physical fitness test. I had joined the Air Force because it was the least physically challenging of all the branches of the military and for the first two years, I had no problems. Then they came out with new standards and our leadership forced us to start running. That's when I noticed my heart rate going crazy.

    When you are in good cardiovascular health, you probably won't have trouble staying around the 85% mark, but if you're just starting out, pace yourself and watch your heart rate. Too much too fast can cause a heart attack.
  • Mom_To_5
    Mom_To_5 Posts: 646 Member
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    What a great ? and one i have often wondered myself, but never remembered to ask till i was on my way home from the gym and since the weather has been nothing but snowing here i have just been using my treadmill and dumbells at home and haven't ventured to the gym in over a week.

    Thanks, on all the responses, i was always wy over what the machine said and if i was at waht it sadi to be at i felt like i wasn't doing anything either, now i know!!

    I LOVE this site!! I have only been on here tracking everything since the 22nd and It is a wealth of info!!!
  • plaisted
    plaisted Posts: 15
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    1)Interval Training burns fat even after you stop working out

    2)Work out in the cardio zone, not teh fat loss zone
    -Fat zone you burn a higher percent of fat
    -Cardio zone you burn a higher amount of calories and a higher amount of fat

    3)Curves is crap

    4)Strength Training helps build muscle, adding muscle, ups your metabolism, your body needs more calories = long term fat loss

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