Optimal heart rate for fat burning

[lastprodigy]

What is it? Often in the past I have heard that it is fairly low...but at such an intensity dont even break much of a sweat and would much rather be doing some intense high heart rate sweat breaking cardio. Just wanted to see some of your thoughts on this.

[RickDaTuner]

70% From what i've read?

[lastprodigy]

of what , max?

[hockeybronx]

Average heart rate for an adult is 60-80 beats per minute. Thus, anything above that gets you into a zone where your body will go to it's fat reserves rather than and in addition to just using the carbohydrates.

[lastprodigy]

so in reality whats better for you? a medium heart rate that supposedly burns fat or a higher intense cardio type workout?

[mac_82]

best just to mix it up. some days i do 45-60 mins of "average" rate cardio, other days i do wind sprint type cardio.

[~Leah~]

The "fat burning" zone is somewhere in the 60-75% (give or take 5%) of your max heart rate (220-age). The point of exercising in the fat burning zone is to be able to do it for an extended period of time at a lower intensity. It uses a slightly different energy source than working in the "cardio" zone. I however, don't agree a lot with this theory. I'd rather do a more intense workout for a shorter period of time, thus getting better cardiovascular effects, as well as burning more calories in a shorter period of time. (Keeping in mind that very generally, weight/fat loss comes down to burning more calories than you consume.) It does use more of the aerobic energy system, as opposed to some aerobic, some anaeorbic, but I'm also an athlete, so cardiovascular endurance is important for me. If you aren't too concerned about cardiovascular effects, then work within that 60-75% range for at least an hour (your body needs to get through carbohydrate stores before it can access your fat for energy).

[badseed]

Couldn't agree with you more. It's nice to see an educated answer on this forum, as oppose to someone's opinion based on their personal experiences.

[liquidboi69]

It's based on your weight and height and sex. Most treadmills at my school let me input my weight and height and stuff, and tells me the best bpm for cardio and burning off fat. I'm 5'8, male, and 163 pounds and it says my target heart rate is around 135.

[lastprodigy]

i see my gym at home does that but here at school it skind of ghetto...im 5'11 180 ....from waht i have read it is somewhere around 120-150 but cant specify more...

[~Leah~]

Your sex has nothing to do with your target heart rate.

[Tyler883]

Originally posted by ~Leah~
Your sex has nothing to do with your target heart rate.

really? my sez ussually raises my target rate for 7 minutes:rofl:

[~Leah~]

Lol... I was drunk when i wrote that comment... I knew i shoulda said gender!