Fast Weight Loss Diet Why the "Fat Burning Zone" Is a Myth

[magic32]

from personal experience, I know that low intensity cardio for a longer duration helps me to burn fat and preserve muscle.

So, I'll stick with that.

Ahhh, that's precisely the myth he's busting here.

Firstly, the body doesn't discriminate against the release of fat as the "Fat Burning Zone" theory posits, i.e. "Moderate aerobic training better coaxes fat reserves into utilized energy." Like most theories it's founded on sound reasoning, but said reasoning is flawed. Your body doesn't care where the calories come from.

This is a very good post Legolas, though destined to be wrought with controversy. I briefly address this very topic, and approach it mathematically (via formula), along with an easy to understand graphic illustration that measures & compares both 'total calories burned' and 'fat calories burned' by the respective methods namely, moderate and high intensity training in "Total Fitness and the Female Body"...http://www.steroid.com/women_and_steroids.php

Scroll down and click on section #4: IV. AEROBIC/CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE.

Nice points FireGuy.

[NewMuscle83]

Ahhh, that's precisely the myth he's busting here.

Firstly, the body doesn't discriminate against the release of fat as the "Fat Burning Zone" theory posits, i.e. "Moderate aerobic training better coaxes fat reserves into utilized energy." Like most theories it's founded on sound reasoning, but said reasoning is flawed.

This is a very good post Legolas, though destined to be wrought with controversy. I briefly address this very topic, and approach it mathematically (via formula), along with an easy to understand graphic illustration that measures & compares both 'total calories burned' and 'fat calories burned' by the respective methods namely, moderate and high intensity training in "Total Fitness and the Female Body"...http://www.steroid.com/women_and_steroids.php

Scroll down and click on section #4: IV. AEROBIC/CARDIOVASCULAR EXERCISE.

Nice points FireGuy.

I see the point they're trying to make..but where is the source for this info?? it's only an illustration made on microsoft paint. Not that i'm disputing it, i'm just simply wondering if there were any actual studies made to determine that LI burns 50% fat calories, and HI burns 40%.

[magic32]

I see the point they're trying to make..but where is the source for this info?? it's only an illustration made on microsoft paint. Not that i'm disputing it, i'm just simply wondering if there were any actual studies made to determine that LI burns 50% fat calories, and HI burns 40%.

Good man!
I like how you think. Anything declared should be supportable, else don't say it!
And as indicated earlier, and reiterated in each of the articles below, it really does come down to simple math:

• http://www.myfooddiary.com/resources..._zone_myth.asp
• http://www.prevention.com/cda/articl...ichele.stanten
• http://www.active.com/triathlon/Arti...rning-Zone.htm
• http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Myth-o...ER!&id=2134778
• http://www.diet.com/dietblogs/read_b...yth&blid=15231

However, for the incredulous mind (myself included), here are a bevy of supporting studies:

1. Achten J, Jeukendrup AE. Relation between plasma lactate concentration and fat oxidation rates over a wide range of exercise intensities. Int J Sports Med. 2004 Jan;25(1):32-7.
   
2. Thompson DL, et al. Substrate use during and following moderate- and low-intensity exercise: implications for weight control. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1998 Jun;78(1):43-9.
   
3. Phelain JF, et al. Postexercise energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in young women resulting from exercise bouts of different intensity.J Am Coll Nutr. 1997 Apr;16(2):140-6.
   
4. Lee YS. Et al. The effects of various intensities and durations of exercise with and without glucose in milk ingestion on postexercise oxygen consumption. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1999 Dec;39(4):341-7.
   
5. Melanson EL, et al. Effect of exercise intensity on 24-h energy expenditure and nutrient oxidation. J Appl Physiol. 2002 Mar;92(3):1045-52.
   
6. Saris WH, Schrauwen P. Substrate oxidation differences between high- and low-intensity exercise are compensated over 24 hours in obese men. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. June; 28 (6): 759-65.
   
7. Grediagin A, et al. Exercise intensity does not effect body composition change in untrained, moderately overfat women. J Am Diet Assoc. 1995 Jun;95(6):661-5.
   
8. Mougios V, et al. Does the intensity of an exercise programme modulate body composition changes? Int J Sports Med. 2006 Mar;27(3):178-81.
   
9. Okura T, et al. Effects of exercise intensity on physical fitness and risk factors for coronary heart disease. Obes Res. 2003 Sep;11(9):1131-9.
   
10. Tremblay, et al. Impact of exercise intensity on body fatness and skeletal muscle metabolism. Metabolism. 1994 Jul;43(7):814-8.
    
11. Yoshioka M, et al. Impact of high-intensity exercise on energy expenditure, lipid oxidation and body fatness. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2001 Mar;25(3):332-9.
    
12. Broeder CE, et al. The effects of either high-intensity resistance or endurance training on resting metabolic rate. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Apr;55(4):802-10.
    
13. Gutin B, et al. Effects of exercise intensity on cardiovascular fitness, total body composition, and visceral adiposity of obese adolescents. Am J Clin Nutr. 2002 May;75(5):818-26.