Fitness Goals Support Group

This community is dedicated to group support around achieving fitness goals, whatever they may be, through personal training, athletic activites, or other strenuous activity. Whether you are trying to get fit to treat a health problem, boost your mood, relieve stress, or tone your body, this group is a great place to meet other like-minded people who have similar goals.

2,592 Members
2,272 Posts
0 Online
Personal Challenges
/ Fitness Goals Support Group

Running

JiggaG
JiggaG
Have started running and using a heart rate moniter. My friend said to run under my maxium heart rate as this helps endurance and helps prevent lactic acid building up etc, so am guessing I am working in my fat burning zone?
But I have just read an article stating not to bother working in fat burning zone and work over your heart rate in you aerobic zone as exercising at higher intensities burns more total calories!

I run twice a week, about 7\8k in 1 hour.

Am just abit confused, any advice would be great! Thanks! :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I don't know the exact science behind all of it. But I know that the faster your heart rate, the more energy needed to pump the heart, and the more calories consumed. So yes the higher your heart rate, the more calories burned.

The whole fat burning zone idea is about where the energy comes from. I'm not sure why your body doesn't target the same energy stores in the fat burning zone as when you have a higher heart rate, but that is why the fat burning zone isn't necessarily the highest calorie burning zone. At least, thats my understanding of it.
deleted_user
deleted_user
When you keep your heart rate in the fat burning zone, it does just that, BURNS FAT for it's energy to keep going. When you go higher it pulls from....???? I don't know. The BEST way to burn more calories is to go back and forth, from the super high to the fat burning - back and forth. Some call it HIIT - High Intensity Interval Training. This will also help build endurance and speed when running.
So for example, you jog at a slower pace for 3 minutes, then full out sprint as fast as you can for 30 seconds. Repeat. There are hundreds of variations on this. Check out you tube for more ideas and examples.
Marah
Marah
I have also heard that interval training is the best way to go. Plus it helps to give your joints a break from going all out.
mguinther
mguinther
I first started out running with a heart monitor. I was too overweight so I took it back down to walking when I hit the 180+ range. Gave myself the time to drop to 140's and strarted to run again. Find the range that works for you and strick with it. Try to increase a little each workout and you will see your endurance increase.
LucilleM
LucilleM
I wish I could run again but my back and knees can't take the pounding.

I like Marah's idea of interval training as it's not so hard on your joints.