Quote:
Originally Posted by Renegade68
Nah - that is actually how target heart rate for cardio is figured out. It used to be printed on alot of machines.
Some "experts" say closer to 80% of MHR is better though.
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60-70% is approximately just about right between the 2 extremes. 55% is where it is said you burn fat. 75-80% is where it's actually stimulating your heart and lungs but dipping into glycogen for fuel.
I'm gonna quote and cite Boyd just because the guy explains it better than I can:
"-For fat to be the primary source of fuel, you need to be in the 55% MAH range
-Training in the 55% range does NOTHING to stimulate the heart and lungs.
-75-80% MAH DOES stimulate the heart and THIS is actually what is meant by "cardio".
-If done for shorter times, you will burn more total calories (and contrary to popular belief, more of those calories will actually be from fat than the slower version) with the 75-80% range." -quoted, Boyd Myers
Understanding Cardio
"If done for shorter times" would be the example of why HIIT is so popular. You're training your heart and burning fat. While training at 60%, you are just starting to go over the fat burning point and at 70% your primary fuel, if you go for 45 minutes, is glycogen and you aren't training your heart optimally.
Of course, he also says the most efficient way to create a caloric deficit is with your diet...