Fat Burning Myth Can Cost You Time & Effort In the Gym
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Is this fat-burning myth costing you time and effort in the gym?
Dr. George Brooks developed the crossover concept of metabolism that shows the body uses mainly fat as fuel until the exercise intensity reaches 65 percent of maximum effort. After that, carbohydrates are the major fuels for exercise. Losing weight seems like a no-brainer: i.e. exercise below the 65 percent point and watch the pounds melt away. It's not that simple. True, you use more fat as fuel when you exercise moderately. But you lose more body fat when you exercise intensely during a 24-hour period because you use more fat for fuel and increase metabolism (increase calorie use) more after exercise. Also, you burn more calories during the exercise itself. The total daily energy use is more important for fat loss than the kinds of fuels used during exercise. Train intensely if you want to lose fat and forget about the "fat-burning" setting on the treadmill or elliptical trainer.
Source: Muscular Development (August 2005, page 88)
PS: Intense exercise, whether it's weight-training or aerobic exercise, is a great way to lose fat and build muscle without wasting time and effort in the gym.
Dr. George Brooks developed the crossover concept of metabolism that shows the body uses mainly fat as fuel until the exercise intensity reaches 65 percent of maximum effort. After that, carbohydrates are the major fuels for exercise. Losing weight seems like a no-brainer: i.e. exercise below the 65 percent point and watch the pounds melt away. It's not that simple. True, you use more fat as fuel when you exercise moderately. But you lose more body fat when you exercise intensely during a 24-hour period because you use more fat for fuel and increase metabolism (increase calorie use) more after exercise. Also, you burn more calories during the exercise itself. The total daily energy use is more important for fat loss than the kinds of fuels used during exercise. Train intensely if you want to lose fat and forget about the "fat-burning" setting on the treadmill or elliptical trainer.
Source: Muscular Development (August 2005, page 88)
PS: Intense exercise, whether it's weight-training or aerobic exercise, is a great way to lose fat and build muscle without wasting time and effort in the gym.
