Hi Ray! I’ve been reading through your book (again) yesterday and today (it’s a slow week at work and re-reading the book helps me make sure I’m on the right track and it pumps up my motivation).
I have a question for you about cardio. According to the cardio machines at our gym (treadmill, eliptical, stationary bike) I burn twice as many calories in a 30 minute run or eliptical session as I do on the bike. Since we’re into this a couple months now, I try to keep my heart rate in the 70 – 80% range for the cardio. I know it’s probably impossible to know if the machines are right….but if so, I’d rather burn twice the amount of calories in the same time. I enjoy running or the eliptical much more than the bike, but, whenever those machines are full, I will do the bike. I know it’s good to do different cardio every now and then. So, the question is…..is the goal to keep my heartrate in that range for 30 minutes, no matter what the activity (and potential calorie loss), or does the actual cardio activity matter as well?
I hope I didn’t make that too confusing!
Thanks again,
Nancy
HI NANCY!!!!!
I honestly feel the elliptical machines lie! I know exactly what your talking about…but 20 minutes running feels a heck of a lot harder than 20 minutes on the treadmill. I would say though that if you are on the elliptical..make sure your get that heart rate at a minimum of 75% because the calories do tend to climb quickly so you shouldnt use that as an accurate measure.
I actually feel that the bike is the hardest to get a high calorie burn on…and so thats the one I do when I really want to work hard.
I usually go by time and calories on the treadmill and bike….say, 350-400 in 30 minutes and I do it in 1 minute sprint intervals. On the elliptical I just go all out untill the room closes in and I see white buffalos’
Bottom line? Measure heart rate and calories in a certain amount of time on the treadmill and bike and always try to burn more than the last session…even 1 more calorie (but dont be too hard on yourself).
The elliptical is a whole other beast…do your time and go as hard as you can but dont compare calories to the other two machines.
Hope that didnt cofuse YOU!
Ray Burton
President Buildingbodies Inc
http://www.buildingbodies.ca
http://www.FatToFitProgram.com
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