The fat burning zone has been a popular concept in the fitness industry for a long time.

The idea behind it is that by exercising at a lower heart rate, you can burn a higher percentage of fat as fuel compared to carbohydrates. While this is technically true, it has led to the myth that the fat burning zone is the most effective way to burn fat and lose weight. However, this is far from the truth.

The truth is that the fat burning zone is a myth. While it is true that exercising at a lower intensity will cause your body to use a higher percentage of fat as fuel, the total number of calories burned will be lower than if you exercise at a higher intensity. This is because the total number of calories burned during exercise depends on both the intensity and the duration of the exercise.

When you exercise at a lower intensity, your heart rate and oxygen consumption are lower. This means that your body is burning fewer calories per minute. While your body may be using a higher percentage of fat as fuel, the total number of calories burned will be lower than if you exercise at a higher intensity.

To understand this concept better, let’s use an example. If you were to walk at a leisurely pace for 30 minutes, you may burn around 150 calories. During this time, your body may use 60% of fat as fuel, which means you burned around 90 calories of fat. However, if you were to run for 30 minutes, you may burn around 300 calories. During this time, your body may use 40% of fat as fuel, which means you burned around 120 calories of fat. Even though your body used a lower percentage of fat as fuel during the run, you burned more fat calories overall.

Another important factor to consider is the afterburn effect, also known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). This refers to the increased metabolic rate and calorie burning that occurs after exercise. Research has shown that high-intensity exercise can lead to a higher EPOC compared to low-intensity exercise. This means that even after you finish your workout, your body will continue to burn calories at a higher rate. Therefore, high-intensity exercise may actually lead to a greater total fat burn throughout the day.

In conclusion, the fat burning zone is a myth. While exercising at a lower intensity may cause your body to use a higher percentage of fat as fuel, the total number of calories burned will be lower than if you exercise at a higher intensity. High-intensity exercise not only burns more calories during the workout but can also lead to a higher afterburn effect, resulting in greater fat burn throughout the day. So, the next time you hit the gym, don’t be afraid to push yourself and raise that heart rate to maximize your fat burn.