"
- DON'T "Exercise in the fat-burning zone." The fat-burning zone is—shockingly—still a very common workout mode on cardio machines.
It is programmed to keep you working at a low heart-rate (intensity)
level because at low-energy levels your body uses more fat as fuel.
That's is true in theory, but in practice it doesn't work out so well.
When it comes to weight loss it does not matter where the calories you burn come from, whether glucose
in the bloodstream from a recent meal you ate or stored body fat. What
really matters is that you burn as many calories as possible regardless
of the source of those calories. And what burns more calories? Working
harder (hence my tip from the video above).
- DON'T "Exercise
on an empty stomach." It is NOT true that exercising on an empty
stomach will cause your body to burn more fat. This is a continuation of
what I explained above, that the source of the energy you burn doesn't
matter when it comes to weight loss. And in many cases, if you are
hungry and forcing yourself to work out without eating something
first—simply to burn more fat—you are only shortchanging yourself. Your
body needs energy to be available for optimal exercise, especially if
you want to work hard, which really burns the most calories (and,
subsequently, fat). When you're low on fuel (energy), you can't work as
hard or as long and your workout suffers along with your calorie burn.
- DON'T "Lift
light weights for lean muscles." Perhaps one of the best things you can
do to unleash your body's fat-burning potential is strength training.
And I do believe that any strength training is better than nothing, even
if it's lightweight. But the idea that lifting light weights is going
to give you better results or "smaller" muscles is only a half truth.
Sure, without lifting heavier you will probably not get much stronger.
But stronger doesn't mean "bigger" (very important!) and the less
strength you have, the fewer calories you are burning while you read
this blog, while you run and while you do just about anything.
Muscle can help elevate your metabolism, and lifting weights to fatigue can also burn some serious calories—even after your workout ends. Not to mention that during weight loss, about 25% of the "weight" you lose could actually be lean tissue like muscle. Over time, that can wreak havoc on your metabolism and fat-burning potential. So pick up those weights at least twice a week and don't fear getting stronger. You'll cut that muscle loss that often accompanies weight loss in half, and it will only make your fitter, slimmer and healthier. "
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