How do you determine fat burning rate?

[nspire]

Does anyone know how to determine your fat burning rate. I was reading something that where the person stated they needed to remain in their fat burning zone. What other zones are there? Since everyone is different sizes/shapes, how does each individual determine what their target zone is?

Thanks so much in advance for your response.

 

[YasBeFit]

I think that you are mixing up two different things. When people talk about the fat burning zone, it is usually referring to the heart rate that is between 60-65% of their maximum heart rate. (You can find tons of websites with the formula on how to figure out your target heart rate).

Staying in this zone burns a greater % of fat calories, so some people have associated this lower intensity workout range as the "right" zone to stay in to burn maximum fat.

The real deal is that working at a higher intensity may burn a lower % of fat calories, but more total calories, plus you get more cardio conditioning.

Your fat burning rate is related to your metabolic rate, weight and muscle mass and is an estimate of how many calories you burn.

So, yes, 2 different size/weight people each working in their "fat burning zone" heart rate for same amount of time would burn a different amount of total calories/fat.

 

[cheval]

You can go do a VO2 test that will measure how many calories (and fat) you're burning at various HR.

I got mine done at my local Y in late June and the trainer that administered it then gave me a 12 week training schedule to help me train my body to broaden my fat burning zone. So that I'm burning more fat in a broader range of HR. Of course, 6 days later, I broke my ankle so I haven't started that 12 weeks yet. It's 3 days of cardio in specific HR zones. Will slide in very nicely to 3 days of STS. At the end of the 12 weeks, I'll get tested again to see if the training is working.

April