is my heart too fast

so 5'7" 34yr male, 188lbs. Right now, I like the eliptical and do a 33 min program on it every day. I change resistance between 6 and 9 at regular intervals. When i'm doing it, I like to go fast - I like to feel like I'm working hard - normally 190-200 strides per minute, and throw in some 30 sec sprints also around 250 strides p/m. I do over 3miles and the burn meter for my height/weight says i do 500 cal in 33 mins.

BUT...my heart rate is often very high. It's normally 150-155 for about the first 15 minutes, then it jumps to 165-175, which it states as being above the "fat burning" level. I feel fine while I'm doing it. No dizzyness etc. What I'm really wanting to know is am i getting the benefit for the cardio when i'm above the limit? I enjoy doing it fast, and am happy with what I'm doing, but obviously i don't want to be spinning my wheels for nothing.....anyone know about heart rate stuff?

Ignore the "fat burning" and "cardio" zones, unless you are training for something and need it to pace yourself. They are misunderstood and misapplied concepts.

As long as you feel fine, and are pushing yourself, don't worry about your heart rate.

The hear rate zones are for optimal impact. I have the same problem you do. For me to burn fat I need to have a heart rate of 116. HA! I get that walking slowly up a flight of stairs. What happens when your heart rate is higher than the fat burn or cardio zone is that you are just burning glucose / carbs.

That said, you are increasing your stamina each time you work out at that level. Eventually, the same work out you are doing now will be done at a much lower heart rate level and produce greater fat burning and cardio results.

My advice would be to stick with what you are doing especially if you are enjoying it. A calorie burned, regardless of what kind it is, still equals a calorie burned!

Original Post by dgwilt:

The hear rate zones are for optimal impact. I have the same problem you do. For me to burn fat I need to have a heart rate of 116. HA! I get that walking slowly up a flight of stairs. What happens when your heart rate is higher than the fat burn or cardio zone is that you are just burning glucose / carbs.

This is what I mean about it being a misunderstood concept.

The "fat burning zone" refers to the heart rate where the greatest percentage of calories come from fat. However, have a heart rate above that level, you will likely be burning a greater number of calories from fat.

Plus, the source of the calories you burn during exercise has very little to do with how quick you lose weight - if you burn more glucose during, it will take from fat later.

So for the purposes of fat loss, it's a wash. For running a marathon, I understand it can be very useful, but that's a different goal.

ok, sounds like I'm not wasting my efforts - thanks very much guys!