Exercise Intensity

The Best and Worst Ways to Measure a Workout

Sore muscles, target heart rate, calorie burn, and more. Our expert sounds off on the legitimate and not-so-legitimate ways we assess a workout well done
By Emily G. W. Chau fitbie
 

Whether You’re in the Fat-Burning Zone

Sorry folks, but the “fat-burning zone” or low-intensity aerobic training sounds more effective than it actually is. The concept of the fat-burning zone is based off research that you burn a higher proportion of calories from fat, as opposed to carbs, when exercising at lower intensities. Science does show that when you exercise at light levels, 60% of your total calories burned are fat calories, compared to 35% at high intensities. However, you also burn fewer total calories when exercising at a lower intensity. For the same amount of time on the treadmill, you’ll most likely burn a greater number of total and fat calories when running your hardest, as compared to taking it easy, says Matthews.

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