Is The Idea to Get Into and STAY in Cardio Rate?

[Robcorc]

This week I have been working on trying to keep my heart rate in that "Cardio" band while working out. I have been starting slow, then pushing a bit to get above 110 bum, then pull back when I hit 134 and above. I am assuming the cardio rates are the "healthy" workout rates. I have been able to keep my workouts between 73 and 87% cardio this past week, where previously, I would have 30 minute sessions that were highly in the fat burn or peak levels...Is my thinking correct?

[Tave]

If those rates work for you and are sustainable, keep at it.  It is about what works best for your body.  Either way, if you are challenging yourself and your body plus eating right, you will see results.  

I can give you an example in my case.  I walk a lot.  All of last week I never left the fat burning zone in my walks.  This week I had a lot of time in peak and cardio zones in my walks.  In both cases I saw some weight loss, and I was not even aiming for that since I am in maintainence for this month.  

[Ryboflavin]

I agree with @Tave stick with what is working for you. however...

The general idea is that you burn more calories in the cardio zone and will improve you cardio endurance. 

The fat zone will burn fewer calories in the same amount of time, but your body will burn predominately fat cells.

If you are spending a lot of time in the cardio zone be sure to eat enough. What can happen is that after your body burns all the glucose (sugar) it may start to burn muscle.

[DominicJ]

Heart Zones are completely arbitrary.

What outcome are you trying to achieve?

[Dominique]

If your main concern is weight/fat loss (as suggested by this other post of yours), I wouldn’t spend too much time thinking about heart rate zones. Just exercise at an intensity level that feels comfortable for you (even walking is just fine) and focus on reaching your Fitbit step and calories goals. 

[Robcorc]

Thanks, Dominique; your responses have been helpful. A bit more info on my particular situation: my chemo treatments, in addition to inspiring a quick 92 pound weight gain, also caused a raise in blood pressure, now under control with meds, AND, even more troubling, atrial fibrillation which had to go uncorrected for six months while I went through a second cycle of chemo across this past spring and summer when I fell out of remission. I was finally able to undergo a cardio conversion in October, and my heart has remained in proper rhythm since. Confirmation that my heart is returned to its former strength and steadiness awaits my wearing of a 14-day, 24hr a day heart monitor, which is scheduled to start next week, likely Wednesday. My doc will be able to do a full eval on my cardiac health thereafter, and in the meanwhile has suggested I work at the weight loss (I joined WW to get a program), gradually increase my mobility and activity, and wear a Fitbit to monitor steps, active minutes, calorie deficit and sleep patterns. I am on the road. And I tend to be well motivated by small successes, so long as they are pretty regular in coming. Before my illness, I had managed to lose 147 pounds across just over 18 months, and I saw at least a tiny loss each and every week. I am looking forward to getting back to THAT pattern. I used to do 8-14 miles a day on my recumbent bike; other than swimming, that is my favorite activity. Unfortunately, I can no longer ride my bike . And we moved, so I. O longer have a pool. Drat.

[Robcorc]

DominicJ, I am working at weight loss--a significant amount--and increased stamina, endurance, health.

[emili]

@Robcorc- based on your health, I think the best person to answer your question will be the doctor you are seeing next week. I don't think any of us are qualified to answer that beyond sharing our own experience. I am so happy that you are on the road to wellness- wish you nothing but the best, E.

[DominicJ]

Your Dr will a better source of information than anyone on here then.

My personal view is to ignore your heart rate.

The Charge HR can make use of the informaton, but you cant, if that makes sense.

For weight loss, my three rules are

Excercise for as long as you can.

Excercise as consistantly as you can

Excercise as hard as you can with breaking the first two rules.

For me, what worked was running 5ks.

And everytime, I ran it just a little bit faster than I did the time before.

And calorie counting obviously.

[Robcorc]

@emili, oh, yeah, I have a whole slew of questions to pose when I see him...but that will not be until April. I see his nurse for a blood pressure check on Monday, then my heart monitor will be self-positioned with the assistance of a remote technician--it gets shipped to my home, then I have to call in while I am hooking up the electrodes. These new-fangled medical appliances and their delivery systems are something else!

I will certainly be asking the nurse my most immediate questions on Monday, but in the meantime I am glad to get insights from some of you, who have more experience than I with the metabolic aspect of exertion. I appreciate the nibbles, but know they do not replace my doctor's insight into my specific case. Cheers!

Sent from my iPad

[emili]

@Robcorc- OK good. And yes I agree with your take on the delivery of equipment- who would have thought all that would be possible. Cheers back at ya and let us know how things go!