Concept2 Forum

I am looking at the weight loss programs generated o nthe UK site. It includes a lot of AT and TR work where I thought low heart rate for long durations was supposed to be more efficient for weight loss (less the 1/2 of the workouts are UT1).

What is the reason behind that?

This is a question that comes up quite a bit. There are some subtleties, but basically weight loss is a function of calories used (ignoring calories in for now). Whether you use those calories by going fast for a short time, or slow for a long time, doesn't really matter too much.

The reason people say that slower is better is because, during the exercise, a greater proportion of your energy will come directly from fat. In fast exercise, by contrast, more has to come from glucose reserves because burning fat takes time. But once you've finished exercising your body still has to get all its reserves back in balance, which will typically mean burning some of the fat it didn't have time to during the exercise to boost our glucose reserves.

Cheers, Paul

Interesting... thanks!

It's funny, but I just started a program last week, and when I saw those AT's and TR's, I thought, "No freaking way!"
But by being religious with the warm ups and cool downs (which I had not done as much in the past, and I just past the 2 million mark) I have found that my pieces go MUCH smoother, the effects last longer, and today during my first set I found myself having to ease off because I felt so strong.
I am actually getting antsy to try those higher rate pieces.

My advice to anyone trying one of these programs is to really follow the warm up advice. You'll get much better results.

Do you use a HRM?

I find that I have to taper down my pace throughout the workout in order to keep from my heart rate to climb above the upper bracket. Frustrating, but it seems to work.

Does anyone see that too?

I'm thinking of buying an HRM as I read somewhere that for fat loss you have to train at 60% of your max HR over a longer period of time?

Has anyone had significant fat loss results from this kind of training?

Any advice on fat loss with regard to rowing would be appreciated.