A third thing that is kind of true, but not really, is the concept of fat burning zones.
I distinctly remember starting at Fitness First in Derby over 23 years ago, being on a treadmill and being advised to “slow down” to put myself “in a fat burning zone”.
I couldn’t quite get my head round how doing easier exercise would benefit me more (assuming I did the same amount of time).
I didn’t take much study to figure out what the situation was.
It is completely true that lower intensity movements mean the body sources a higher percentage of its energy requirements from body fat.
But that doesn’t mean that more energy used overall won’t contribute to greater body fat reduction.
When we’re asleep we’re using the highest percentage of our energy from fat stores.
But we’re just not using very much.
I’m going to massively simplify and round off the numbers here but the concept is still the same;
Using 500 calories with 50% coming from body fat………..
Will use more calories than 300 calories with 70% commitment body fat.
Both in terms of the number of calories from the body fat (250 vs 210) and overall (500 vs 300).
Provided all else is equal, wherever those calories of energy are sourced from it will contribute to body fat reduction over time.
If our exercise choices impact our eating choices then that’s a different thing.
And if our choice of intensity impacts the duration or other variables (so we’d do more total volume at a lower intensity because we could keep going) then that’s a consideration but, again, a different thing.
I’m not saying that exercise has to be super challenging but I am saying that purposely dropping the intensity to something that is easier than when we feel okay with with a view to burning body fat doesn’t make sense.
Much love,
Jon ’60-70% MHR’ Hall
P.S. Experience has taught me that the most important variable for most people is “enjoyment”. Hate it and it doesn’t matter how good a workout is on paper because it won’t get done enough to get results. Enjoy it and you’ll get there —> www.myrise.co.uk/apply
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RISE in Macclesfield was established in 2012 and specialise in Group Personal Training weight loss programmes for those that don’t like the gym and find diets boring and restrictive!
