Quote:
Originally Posted by xx66stangxx When I go to the gym to do cardio I notice on the cycling machines and treadmills that there is a cardio zone (High heart rate) and fat burn zone (low heart rate) I have always done the cardio zone (running ext) Now wouldn't I be burning more fat while running then just walking on the treadmill? |
The so-called "fat burning zone" burns a higher
percentage of fat than higher intensities, but the higher aerobic intensities burn more calories overall, and, even with a lower percentage of calories burned from fat, still burn more fat for a given amount of time than the "fat burning zone".
Once you get to anaerobic intensities that are only sustainable for sprints, energy has to come from glycogen / carbohydrates rather than fat. But doing sprints /
HIIT is still effective at losing fat, since subsequent carbohydrate calorie intake reloads muscle glycogen instead of going to fat.
The lower intensities of cardio may be suitable for beginners or those recovering from injuries, but people who just want to improve fitness and/or burn calories would be better served by
HIIT and/or longer term cardio at the high end of the aerobic range, rather than doing cardio at lower intensities like the so-called "fat burning zone".