I work out on the Eliptical machine for about 30-40 minutes with my heart rate way above my cardio heart rate target.... Is that intense cardio? What kinds of workouts are considered intense cardio.. Kick boxing? Cycling classes?
2006-10-18 08:07:25 · 7 answers · asked by joanna1_84 2 in Health ➔ Diet & Fitness
well lets say my thr for Cardio is 160.. I get up to 175... I'm just exercising harder I'm not tiring myself out Its normal for me to be at that pace.
2006-10-18 09:26:23 · update #1
What an awesome question. I actually get asked it a lot.
First off the heartrates listed on those charts are one step above worthless because they caregorize us solely by age completely discounting the fact that what is "intense" for one person may be a walk in the park for a more fit person.
Second - let's dispel the "cardio" vs "fat loss" myth - While it is true that you will burn a higher % of your calories from fat exercising at a lower intensity , you can burn MORE TOTAL CALORIES (and fat) by exercising harder
Third "Exercise Intensity" is measured as a % of yoru max so an "intense" workout would be anything that gets you to a higher % . The fitter you get the harder you will have to train to get your heartrate up
Okay, that having been said:
The most important factor is knowing YOUR fitness level. You can check this by testing your resting heartrate. Take your pulse 1st thing in the morning for a minute before rising.
You can go here for a calculator that will figure out your % either with or without knowing your resting heartrate. This will tell you how intense you are actually training. The key is to gradually raise your intensity for the duration of your exercise.
For example, if you are training at 75 % on the eliptical, try adding "hi intensity" intervals which brings your HR up by 5 - 10 % and keep it there for a few minutes. Gradually increase your intervals until the entire session is at the next higer %
www.mypersonalfitnesscoach.com/FTHRcalculator.html
2006-10-18 08:22:57 · answer #1 · answered by My Personal Fitness Coach 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, this is intense. 'Cardiovascular exercise' is usually divided into 'high', 'moderate', and 'low' zones; 50-60% for the low zone, 60-70% for the moderate, and 70-80% for high. Because people like to feel like they are 'really working', the moderate and low zones tend to be unpopular. But in reality, the more work you do, and the lower you do it, the better this is for your body. Recently, the 'fitness industry' (a collection of profiteers who prefer to sell popular products, rather than useful ones) has started to classify two more zones: 'borderline', which is a joke because it's as broad as the others at 80-90%, and 'maximal' which is variously listed as '90%', 'above 90%', '90-95%', or '90-100%', according to how 'crazy' or how 'cautious' the publication wants to seem. This trend is idiotic, because the people who are keen to work in these 'extreme' zones are unwilling to spend enough time recovering beween sessions, or to do the kind of gentle work that can protect them from the ill-effects of working so hard. For example, a vigorous workout will suppress your immune system. The harder you work out, the longer this will last. But gentle daily activity will help to boost your immune system, so that you are less vulnerable during 'recovery' from execise. Your own routine would benefit from the addition of some very gentle exercises (such as yoga, plus some mobilising and stretching, or a mixed Tai Chi session) every morning and night. On Cardio days, this will help to prepare you before, and relax you after, your more demanding session, and on non-cardio days it will help to recover by flushing waste products from, and supplying raw repair materials to, the muscles that you have worked vigorously.
2016-05-22 00:02:11 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, all of those are. Anything that gets your heart rate up. Don't maintain your heart rate above the target or you will damage the heart muscle. The point of strenuous exercise is not to get the heart beating like crazy. That's not how you get in shape. All the muscles in your body get better conditioned, and your metabolism improves when you exercise properly. Strength training is very beneficial in weight loss also, so do some weight training or pilates or yoga in addition to "cardio."
2006-10-18 08:14:43 · answer #3 · answered by martin h 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the intensity you are doing it at, and what you're trying to acheive. If you are above your THR, you won't burn fat, but you will get cardio benefits.
2006-10-18 08:15:27 · answer #4 · answered by littleblondemohawk 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is WAY ABOVE MY TARGET HEART RATE?
What is your target heart rate? The one for fat loss or the one for cardio conditioning.
What do you think you're accomplishing if you're at 100% of your MAX heart rate?
2006-10-18 08:24:56 · answer #5 · answered by shinobisoulxxx 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yeah spinning class is intense cardio as well as body sculpting.
2006-10-18 08:31:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
read tips on some great cardio workouts and more on this site
2006-10-18 08:14:01 · answer #7 · answered by lushy 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋