From: becker@edwards-vax.af.mil
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Fitness thoughts
Date: 27 Aug 92 06:37:40 -0800
Organization: IFAST - EDWARDS Air Force Base

From: mazur@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur) writes...

>In article <2A994A35.14703@orion.oac.uci.edu> dan@cafws2.eng.uci.edu (Dan Harkless) writes:
>
>>In article <1992Aug17.080344.28886@edwards-vax.af.mil> becker@edwards-vax.af.mil writes:
>>
>>>You do realize that for burning FAT you must find your target heart
>>>rate and keep it at that rate for 20 minutes before your body begins
>>>to burn fat?  THat is why it is good to do a 40 minute aerobic workout
>>>twice a day....gives you the best results.  Many people work up to
>>>one hour at a time.  The heart rate is the key here, remember that.
>>
>>	Hmmm.  I did not realize this.  How do you figure out your target heart
>>rate?  I am trying to lose 10 pounds right now.  I use the LifeStep machine.

>The reason you didn't realize it is that it isn't true.  You are burning
>fat the minute you start to exercise.  However, some of the other benefits

hummm, there are those that would argue with that statement.

>of cardiovascular improvement do take longer periods of exercise.  On

and what benefits are those?

>his PBS special, Covert Bailey talks about 12 minutes of x-country skiing,
>15 minutes of jogging, and 40 minutes of walking as being what you should
>aim for.

hummm, and I suppose his word is the final word?

>However, the harder you exercise, the less fat you burn (i.e., anaerobic
>exercise burns very little fat).  This is why you should pick an exercise  
>you *can* do for 20 or more minutes--as it is aerobic almost by definition.

>As far as figuring out *your* target heart rate, the best way is to get
>on a LifeStep and work up to a pace that you feel you could do for 20
>minutes or so and that enables you to talk without gasping.  Now take 

Now are you absolutely sure about that advise?  Too many people do 
exactly what you just suggested and get NO fat reduction because its simply
not happening.  The truth of the matter is that there is no EASY way to do
it.  You do need to WORKOUT which means you probably will become a tad
bit winded, but not light headed, dizzy or feeling poorly.  Exercise is
just that, exercise and even though at the time you feel all the physical
signs of working out after your done you feel wonderful!  

>your pulse (feel just below the fleshy base of your thumb on your wrist) 
>for 6 seconds.  Multiply that number by 10.  That's a good target heart
>rate.

Everyone has their OWN theories.  Some seem fine, some are misleading.
If you are not an expert, which none of us are, then you need to take
what you've been reading and decide for yourself.  I'd go ask my doctor.
Tell him/her what you want to do and about all the advise and ask him/her
to weed through it all and tell you the bottom line.  Thats what I did
and it works for me!!!!!  (thats the key, you want it to WORK correctly
for you!)
Beth Mazur                   "...life is more than a vision.  The sweetest
mazur@inmet.inmet.com         part is acting after making a decision."
...!uunet!inmet!mazur                                  -- The Indigo Girls