Burning fat while feeling lousy...

[nchasan]

SO this past week I got food poisoning, and really started to feel it during my 10K on Friday. In fact, I bailed out at 6K feeling like I was going to hurl. I didn't, but it took me a long time to recover.

Saturday I naturally felt awful, but then on Sunday, I had more energy, not much, but definitely more than Saturday. I was laying around watching the Masters when I thought "what if I just row really slowly" so I got on the ERG and started to row really easy - like 3:00 splits while watching the golf unfold. I barely broke a sweat, and even though the 10K took almost an hour, it STILL burned 550 Kcal!

So what I learned was this, when you feel really burned out, just do a really easy row. It won't build much muscle, but it will definitely burn fat.

I also am certain that I can easily do a half marathon at that pace whereas I was trying to imagine how I would pushing as hard as I normally do.

That's what I got out of it!

N

[Citroen]

and even though the 10K took almost an hour, it STILL burned 550 Kcal!

You get 300 Kcal/hour for free (for pulling the chain with no flywheel attached). The maths that calculates calories used on the PM2/PM3/PM4 doesn't appear to match anyone normal and will more often than not give a number that is artificially high.

[nchasan]

and even though the 10K took almost an hour, it STILL burned 550 Kcal!

You get 300 Kcal/hour for free (for pulling the chain with no flywheel attached). The maths that calculates calories used on the PM2/PM3/PM4 doesn't appear to match anyone normal and will more often than not give a number that is artificially high.

So I get that, but I still rowed on 3:00 splits for an hour...I must have burned SOME calories...even if it was 200, thats something...

[mjschumacher100]

So what I learned was this, when you feel really burned out, just do a really easy row.

I'd have to disagree with this. My advice, when you're really burned out, take a break, relax, recuperate and get better. Only then should you even think about exercise, no matter how sedentary.

I think you can get on a slippery slope if you feel guilty because you're ill and not exercising or when you feel you should be doing something during times of illness.

[PJM]

So what I learned was this, when you feel really burned out, just do a really easy row.

I'd have to disagree with this. My advice, when you're really burned out, take a break, relax, recuperate and get better. Only then should you even think about exercise, no matter how sedentary.

I think you can get on a slippery slope if you feel guilty because you're ill and not exercising or when you feel you should be doing something during times of illness.

As a health care professional and Personal Trainer..I have to agree with this advice to take a break and "get better".

Pat