Cathe-question re: intense workouts

[joannabeske]

Hi Cathe!

First of all I love your workouts. I discovered you in October and now I own almost all of your videos. I am offically addicted! I have a question regarding your workouts and fatburning. I have been using your workouts exclusively now for about 2-3 months. They really push me and my heart rate gets up there-especially on intervals. I just heard that if you do intense training or training that is out of your aerobic zone you will only be burning sugar not fat. Is this true and if so what kind of rotation should I do? I am in good shape. I just want to lose the excess layer of fat in my ab area and I want to see more definiton of my muscles. Currently I am doing your intensity series and CTX. Should I be adding in some lower intensity workouts like walking. I just get so bored w walking. I love your videos!
Thanks! Joanna

 

[joannabeske]

 

[joannabeske]

Hi Cathe. It is me again. Sorry to bump this up but this is something that has been debated on other fitness sites and I am really curious on your opinion. This is my first time posting a question to you so I was hoping to get an answer. If anyone else has info on this please let me know. Thanks! Have a great day.

 

[missyb70]

I hope Cathe doesn't mind my answering you before her, but here is a link to a great article concerning the fat burning zone. It doesn't talk specifically about burning sugar vs. burning fat, but basically, it says that when you exercise at a higher intensity, like 80-85% MHR, while the percentage of fat calories burned will be lower than if you were working out at 60-65% MHR, you will burn a much higher amount of calories and therefore a higher amount of fat calories. I hope this helps answer your question!

http://exercise.about.com/library/weekly/aa022601a.htm

 

[icklemoley]

Hi...what we should be more concerned with is not how many calories are burned or what source, but if the intensity is high enough to create a change in our metabolism. High intensity exercise is the only true way to burn fat, increase lean muscle mass and change our bodies. I interval train with Cathe 3x per week, and weight train 4x per week. Keep the intensity up and burn baby burn ...

 

[joannabeske]

Thanks for the info!