When I run, I’m more in my peak zone, what does this mean

[LosingTheChub]

 

 

Hi all. Can someone advise me. I’ve started 4/5 weeks ago walking and now jogging 5K. Goal is to lose 30lbs! I’m a woman aged 39 and weigh 162lbs (5 foot 3). So I upgraded to a Fitbit charge 4 with heart rate tracker and it’s basically said I’m mainly in my peak zone. Is this bad? Reason I ask is I’ve not lost a single ounce... I’m always in a calorie deficit as my screenshots show. Can someone advise if I should slow down and try to be in the fat burn zone? Thank you 

[Heybales]

Those zones are based on a % of your HRmax. (maximum heart rate your body can genetically reach)

Do you know what your HRmax is?

Neither does your Fitbit.

It is calculating it using ancient formula of 220-age, which for women has been found to be a huge bell curve - and you have better chance of being more than 10 beats outside predicted, than within.

So you may or may not actually be in your Peak zone.

Your aerobic zone would be when you can talk for a complete sentence up to short sentences before you need to focus on breathing again, catching your breath.

Peak zone would be above that speaking in a few words at a time, fat-burning would be below that complete sentences ongoing conversation.

Which zone you are in has no bearing on losing fat.

Burn less calories but more of them being % of fat is the fat burning zone (say 200 & 70%), more calories and smaller % from fat (but more fat g overall) in aerobic zone (say 300 & 50%), peak is even more calories and smaller % of fat (say 400 & 20%).

What happens to the day as a whole does matter for losing fat.

The zone you are in only has a bearing on how many calories you burn, therefore it effects how much you get to eat when in a diet.

That may have a bearing on adhering and sustaining a diet.

Burn 2500 and eat 2000, or burn 2000 and eat 1500?

Which might be easier?

So no it's not bad you are in a calculated peak zone that may or may not be true.

Unless it makes you so sore or tired you can't do your planned workout the next day because you didn't recover.

That would be bad.

Exercise causes water weight gain for many reasons if you've started up this walking/running routine.

If not losing inches as measured in many spots on body - then something is wrong with either Fitbit's estimates of calorie burn, or your logging of calories eaten - or likely both.

https://youtu.be/KA9AdlhB18o

[LosingTheChub]

Makes sense, thank you for clarifying that. I get to the point where I can’t talk at all... few words but I have to stop to catch my breath... and yes, aching the next morning. Particularly my knees!