Some common questions in regards to training by the energy systems....
How do I burn fat so my waist gets smaller?
By dieting and aerobic exercise. But with most types of aerobic activity, we need to know if the intensity is high enough to be effective, and not so high as to engage the wrong energy system.
"What is the deal with Aerobic exercise?"
The cornerstone of nearly every fitness regimen, weight loss plan, or conditioning program is some type of aerobic activity. There is a wealth of information, studies, research, opinion, etc., concerning the benefits of aerobics, and it is readily available on the web. I am not going to recapitulate or summarize all the research that has been done on the subject. Google it, if you are interested.
"Google it? Ouch. So what do I need to know?"
One thing we have all experienced is that as we elevate the level of intensity of aerobic exercise, blood lactate levels increase, we become winded, and we may soon have to rest. When the concentration of blood lactate reaches a critical point (4mmol) we are crossing the Anaerobic Threshold (AT)* & have started becoming anaerobic by creating an oxygen debt. This is not desirable if our goal is fat burning, because we will burn more sugar calories than fat calories. Sugar provides energy faster as it is easier to burn than fat.
"So why do I want to train the "right" energy system?"
Consider this. If you were blindfolded and placed on a basketball court with no information as to which direction you were facing and handed a basketball, could you make a basket? Furthermore, would you even know if you had made a basket while blindfolded? That is analagous to most forms of aerobic exercise. Are you even training the appropriate energy system?
"Ahh!, So when I do Zumba, am I in the ballpark?"
Maybe. Maybe not. No accurate way to assess how much power you are producing or how many calories are being burned during this type of activity. Heart rate is a poor approximation at best..would you use heart rate to determine what weight you should use on a bench press?
"So how do you determine if a workout is effective?"
Power. We determine the wattage or power your at lactate threshold through a 20 minute test protocol. Once AT is determined your workouts are designed to keep you at or just under your wattage at AT..to maximize fat burning.
Power?
Power is an absolute measure of performance. We measure power using what is known as a Power Meter. Cycling is one of the few activites where power can me accurately measured. We determine your power profile where metrics such as power at VO2max, Power at Lactate Threshold (LT), and then train the in the appropriate wattage to specifically target those areas.
How do I burn fat so my waist gets smaller?
By dieting and aerobic exercise. But with most types of aerobic activity, we need to know if the intensity is high enough to be effective, and not so high as to engage the wrong energy system.
"What is the deal with Aerobic exercise?"
The cornerstone of nearly every fitness regimen, weight loss plan, or conditioning program is some type of aerobic activity. There is a wealth of information, studies, research, opinion, etc., concerning the benefits of aerobics, and it is readily available on the web. I am not going to recapitulate or summarize all the research that has been done on the subject. Google it, if you are interested.
"Google it? Ouch. So what do I need to know?"
One thing we have all experienced is that as we elevate the level of intensity of aerobic exercise, blood lactate levels increase, we become winded, and we may soon have to rest. When the concentration of blood lactate reaches a critical point (4mmol) we are crossing the Anaerobic Threshold (AT)* & have started becoming anaerobic by creating an oxygen debt. This is not desirable if our goal is fat burning, because we will burn more sugar calories than fat calories. Sugar provides energy faster as it is easier to burn than fat.
"So why do I want to train the "right" energy system?"
Consider this. If you were blindfolded and placed on a basketball court with no information as to which direction you were facing and handed a basketball, could you make a basket? Furthermore, would you even know if you had made a basket while blindfolded? That is analagous to most forms of aerobic exercise. Are you even training the appropriate energy system?
"Ahh!, So when I do Zumba, am I in the ballpark?"
Maybe. Maybe not. No accurate way to assess how much power you are producing or how many calories are being burned during this type of activity. Heart rate is a poor approximation at best..would you use heart rate to determine what weight you should use on a bench press?
"So how do you determine if a workout is effective?"
Power. We determine the wattage or power your at lactate threshold through a 20 minute test protocol. Once AT is determined your workouts are designed to keep you at or just under your wattage at AT..to maximize fat burning.
Power?
Power is an absolute measure of performance. We measure power using what is known as a Power Meter. Cycling is one of the few activites where power can me accurately measured. We determine your power profile where metrics such as power at VO2max, Power at Lactate Threshold (LT), and then train the in the appropriate wattage to specifically target those areas.