METS and Resistance question.

kt90gurl
kt90gurl Posts: 37 Member
edited November 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Am I right in thinking, that the higher my resistance the higher my MET score will be, even if I aren't as quick (for example, going a bit slower on the elliptical at 25 resistance than at say 10 resistance.) It says on the machine that it's burning more calories per hour, however its starting to feel easy so I am going faster, the machine I go on doesn't have a MET score so I'm just assuming higher resistance = higher score. Or is more about how fast I go? I'm confused clearly.

Replies

  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Intensity on an elliptical, like a bike, will be a product of resistance times speed. So you can theoretically achieve the same intensity going hard and slow or easy and fast.

    In reality, due to a number of factors, there is a combination of speed and resistance that will be the best match for you and will allow for maximum effort.

    If you put on higher resistance and it is too high, the numbers might look good at first, but you will tire more quickly and have to stop sooner. Consequently, if one puts the resistance too low, one can go at a faster speed but resistance could be so low that you can't "pedal" fast enough to achieve your best effort.
  • kt90gurl
    kt90gurl Posts: 37 Member
    Makes sense, thanks :)
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