My calorie burns are dropping?

Amf5627622
Amf5627622 Posts: 93
edited November 7 in Fitness and Exercise
I am guessing it's because my body is getting more fit? I've noticed over the past few weeks that my calories burned for the same workouts are dropping. Is something wrong with my heart rate monitor or is it accurate and I am just burning less calories per workout as I get in better shape?

Replies

  • Howbouto
    Howbouto Posts: 2,121 Member
    Its because you are getting more fit! That's a good thing but also a double edge sword. This is why you are to change your workout every 6 to 9 week to keep your body on its toes. You are getting more effiecent.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Decreasing weight can decrease calorie burn, since calorie expenditure is based on weight x workout intensity.

    However, you also have to update your HRM settings. The HRM assumes your VO2max is the same as when you started, when it has increased. So it assumes that your lowered heart rate is due to the fact that you aren't working at the same oxygen uptake level.

    Actually, you are likely doing MORE work not less.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Its because you are getting more fit! That's a good thing but also a double edge sword. This is why you are to change your workout every 6 to 9 week to keep your body on its toes. You are getting more effiecent.

    That's actually not true. Mechanical efficiency has very little effect on calorie burn. And what modest effect it has can easily be offset by just upping the workload a little bit.

    Any workout routine should include a variety of training intensities and durations as a matter of course. However, just randomly changing your exercise activity will likely result in less calorie burn, not more.
  • Amf5627622
    Amf5627622 Posts: 93
    Thanks! it never occurred to me to update my HRM settings. I'll give that a whirl and add a little running to my walks to change it up a bit and see if I can get the burns back up there!
  • livindreams
    livindreams Posts: 24
    Just thinking about it seems more likely you are getting more fit and your actual exertion is not the same as your body adapts and your heart is not working as hard as you are better able to handle the activity. Just change it up a bit :)
  • FitForLife81
    FitForLife81 Posts: 372 Member
    Yup same thing happened to me. It takes me a lot to burn a lot of calories now! I chalked it up to being a lot smaller and a high level of fitness!
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