CrossFit Atlanta Newsletter
News & Fitness Information from CrossFit Atlanta
February 11, 2007 - Vol 1, Issue 2
Do you know anyone who jogs for miles every week and cannot lose weight?
The Fat Burning Zone is supposed to be exercise done at around 50% VO2 max or at a heart rate of around 120 for a 30 year old. In other words, slow and easy, and jogging or other slow paced exercise on "cardio" machines is touted as the way to lose weight. Runners call this training "LSD": Long, Slow Distance.
Last week we discussed the math involved, that while training in the so called "Fat Burning Zone" does burn a higher percentage of fat for fuel than higher intensity exercise, it does not necessarily burn a higher total amount of fat. In fact, sitting on the couch watching TV burns a higher percentage of fat than any exercise.
But there's more to the story than just the amount of fat burned during the exercise session. High intensity exercise raises your metabolism for a more extended period of time post exercise than slower paced aerobics. That's one consideration, another is that high intensity exercise builds more muscle than low intensity. Muscle burns fat while at rest, yes, even while you sleep.
A good diet is essential to weight loss and health, but diet being equal, more vigorous workouts will give more fat loss than slow and easy workouts.
