From: becker@edwards-vax.af.mil
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: Re: Fitness thoughts.
Date: 31 Aug 92 06:43:13 -0800
Organization: IFAST - EDWARDS Air Force Base

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

>In article <1992Aug27.063740.28895@edwards-vax.af.mil> becker@edwards-vax.af.mil writes:
>>From: mazur@inmet.camb.inmet.com (Beth Mazur) writes...
>>
>Becker 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?  
>I respond:
>>>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.

>My reference is Covert Bailey, The New Fit or Fat, page 38.  What's yours?

a trainer with a degree in physical fitness.  I know big deal right.  Probably
doesn't know what the hell she's talking about.

>	"Many people mistakenly believe that it takes twelve minutes
>	 of aerobic exercise before fat is burned.  They think that their
>	 muscles use glucose for twelve minutes and then start using fat. 
>	 This is incorrect.  Fat is burned from the very start of the
>	 exercise. The only time fat isn't used is when you're exercising
>	 too hard for the fat-burning enzymes to function."

Well, alls I can say is people can talk about their theories until hell 
freezes over and there will be truth and non truth to each.  I can only base
what I've said in support of my trainers theories by results.  MEGA difference
on me alone.  I've seen her take someone who had been working out for over a
year with no results and train them properly (key words TRAIN PROPERLY) on
the stair master and within three months have REMARKABLE improvement.  I
have seen people soooooooo happy they cry.  Its amazing. 
>
>
>>>of cardiovascular improvement do take longer periods of exercise. 
>>
>>and what benefits are those?

>Continuing from the previous quote:
>
>	"The question is, if fat is burned from the very start of exercise,
>	 what difference does it make how long we exercise? ... The answer
>	 is that you are trying to produce *growth* of fat-burning
>	 enzymes and a minimum of twelve minutes of continual, gentle
>	 activity seems to be the time trigger necessary to stimulate 
>	 this growth."
>

I have heard it takes 15 minutes.......

>>>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.
>>

ah huh, and there are many people who HATE jogging.....you see this is his
theory of what he likes best not necessarily what is best for you.

>>hummm, and I suppose his word is the final word?
>>
>Well, there are those who would argue that his isn't the final word.  But
>I take his word over yours.

Its not MY word....I'm just giving you what I've been told and with TERRIFIC
results....I find that better then talk alone.

>>>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.  

>Geez, you mean you haven't heard that people burn more fat exercising at
>a lower intensity?  When you start working out so hard that you are gasping,
>or unable to breath comfortably, you are at the anaerobic threshold.
>You are *not* burning fat if your muscle cells cannot get any oxygen.

Excuse me, the question was dealing with figuring your target heart rate, 
a very important piece of the fat burning formula.  I have not ever exercised
on the stair master to the point of gasping for breath....the only people
I've seen do that are those training for other things, not losing weight.

>>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.
>
>I agree.  The one true fact is that there are no universally accepted
>truisms in the fitness arena.  Read up, ask for opinions (and try and
>figure out where they got their advice), and don't do what doesn't feel
>good to your body.

>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

At least we agree on something! :-)