Cardio and heart rate

[silverose1209]

Ok, I jsut started working out a few days ago. At the gym the trainer said when I do cardio to do it at least 40 minutes and to keep my heart rate in the fat burning area which would be about 130-155 if I understand correctly. Well I did the elliptical today and going as slow as the machine would go my heart rate was still 164 at the lowest. Is this just because I am out of shape> What should I do about this? Is the workout helping me at all? Please help..
Thanks
Amy

 

[~LV~]

You will notice that your HR will decrease as you continue to cardio train.

 

[silverose1209]

So should I continue going slower to keep my heart rate down or should I increase the intensity even though my heart rate will be really high?

 

[sparrow]

Ok, I jsut started working out a few days ago. At the gym the trainer said when I do cardio to do it at least 40 minutes and to keep my heart rate in the fat burning area which would be about 130-155 if I understand correctly. Well I did the elliptical today and going as slow as the machine would go my heart rate was still 164 at the lowest. Is this just because I am out of shape> What should I do about this? Is the workout helping me at all? Please help..
Thanks
Amy

Hi Amy, the high heart rate is because of low cardio fitness. like LV said, it will decline as you get more fit. Any workout is helpful and I wouldn't worry TOO much about the heart rate until you get more in shape. For now just make sure you're not getting it too high for too long. If 164 is what you got for the lowest intensity then stay there until it begins to drop, then increase your intensity a little as you feel able. Do you feel winded at 164? I hope so! thats a sign you are doing what it takes. Congrats on wanting to get into shape! you're headed in a great direction!

 

[Lightnaugust]

Ok, I jsut started working out a few days ago. At the gym the trainer said when I do cardio to do it at least 40 minutes and to keep my heart rate in the fat burning area which would be about 130-155 if I understand correctly. Well I did the elliptical today and going as slow as the machine would go my heart rate was still 164 at the lowest. Is this just because I am out of shape> What should I do about this? Is the workout helping me at all? Please help..
Thanks
Amy

You should keep your heart rate in the fat burning zone until your fitness level is higher. Then toss that nonsense.

I have a high fitness level and when I got a gym membership at the current gym I attend I received a free personal training lesson in which the trainer told me to never go above the fat burning zone if I want to lose weight, because then I will just be "working towards endurance." The reason why he thought this was the right advice to give me is that the % of fat that you burn is higher in the fat burning zone compared to the higher intensity zones, but you are burning less calories over all and over time when you go at a slow pace and stay within a set range once your fitness level is high enough to go past it comfortably. Plus the amount of energy you burn AFTER the workout is higher when you maximize your heart rate during workouts.

But while your fitness level is low, stay within fat burning zone, but as you strengthen your heart, work harder and increase your comfort zone and you will notice better results. Just as in weight lifting you don't set your sights on lifting a certain amount of weight indefinitely. If so, you won't notice any gains. You have to continue to push yourself to lift heavier weights to notice better results so that you don't plateau.