Fat Burning Zone and Cortisol - UK-Muscle Body Building Community

JDN21 · 19-08-2006, 08:14 PM

Even though doing CV work at a low intensity in your 'fat burning zone' means you are using up less calories than working at maximum intensity, does it have the advantage of supressing Cortisol?

As we all probably know, when you're on a crosstrainer or a treadmill on a fat burning program, sometimes you are walking slowly and it feels as though you are doing nothing, therefore, is the Catabolic effect lessened as opposed to working at optimum rate?

**Pscarb** · 19-08-2006, 10:51 PM

if your diet is good you should not be in a catabolic state whilst doing cardio....

"fat burning zones" on cardio machines are a little misleading as they are normally set for a 200lb man even after you input your stats....
i go by a simple rule of thumb when wanting to burn fat using cardio machines i use a treadmill and walk at approx 3.5 - 5mph this is enough to make me sweat and feel the workout but not enough to be out of breath....

the body uses carbs for energy above 65% intensity below 65% the body uses fat for energy...

Truewarrior1 · 19-08-2006, 11:21 PM

useful info there pscarb

JDN21 · 20-08-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pscarb

if your diet is good you should not be in a catabolic state whilst doing cardio....

Even if you are running alot? I am a distance runner, hopefully doing the London Marathon next year therefore I need to offset the Catabolic effect as much as possible. I do resistance training to minimise muscle breakdown and incorporate HIIT where I can.

So by 'good diet', do you mean the 'standard' diet we see on these forums - mainly high protein, good fats etc?

**Pscarb** · 20-08-2006, 11:05 AM

Now a good diet is one that meets your goals...there is no such thing as a standard diet as we are all diffrent....

so what is your current diet??

jugganaut · 20-08-2006, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pscarb

the body uses carbs for energy above 65% intensity below 65% the body uses fat for energy...

That answers a few questions for me. Thanks for that Pscarb.

**hackskii** · 20-08-2006, 05:41 PM

Yah but HIIT can raise GH and testosterone far higher than that fat burning zone thing.
You only need to look at the sprinters and long distance runners and see their muscle conditions to draw conclusions.

JDN21 · 20-08-2006, 07:08 PM

Breakfast
High Fibre Bran
3 Scrambled Eggs
1 Slice Cheddar Cheese
1 Slice Ham

Snack
50g Nuts
Protein Shake

Lunch
Lean Meat
Spinach
Pineapple

Post Workout
Banana
Protein Shake

Tea
Lean Meat
Veg/Rice

6 Fish Oil Caps throughout the day, loads of water.

Does Creatine have any effect on this matter at all?

**Pscarb** · 20-08-2006, 10:23 PM

as you have said you are a distance runner and you do this on this diet??? how the hell do you last running long distances with this diet??
although you have not put amounts down i would estimate you are not getting any more than 150g of carbs and that is very rough estimate plus i cannot see anything that consists of slow burning carbs.
where is the Pasta or Oats, Rice, Spuds??
i think you have the protein side of things covered but i am really confused as this diet does not meet the goals you are looking for as a long distance runner.....

HIIT training does raise both Test and GH levels but this is not your goal your goal is stamina and this is acheived by running long distances either on a treadmill or on the streets and to do this you need carbs....

19-08-2006, 08:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
JDN21 Newbie Trainer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 36	Fat Burning Zone and Cortisol Even though doing CV work at a low intensity in your 'fat burning zone' means you are using up less calories than working at maximum intensity, does it have the advantage of supressing Cortisol? As we all probably know, when you're on a crosstrainer or a treadmill on a fat burning program, sometimes you are walking slowly and it feels as though you are doing nothing, therefore, is the Catabolic effect lessened as opposed to working at optimum rate?

19-08-2006, 10:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Pscarb UK-Muscle Moderator and NABBA Champion Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10,188	if your diet is good you should not be in a catabolic state whilst doing cardio.... "fat burning zones" on cardio machines are a little misleading as they are normally set for a 200lb man even after you input your stats.... i go by a simple rule of thumb when wanting to burn fat using cardio machines i use a treadmill and walk at approx 3.5 - 5mph this is enough to make me sweat and feel the workout but not enough to be out of breath.... the body uses carbs for energy above 65% intensity below 65% the body uses fat for energy... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Admin at To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent everything else is just the icing on the cake

19-08-2006, 11:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
Truewarrior1 Hulking Out! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: london Posts: 1,784	useful info there pscarb __________________ When You Dance With The Devil You Wait For The Song To Stop. Currently HULKING OUT!

20-08-2006, 11:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
Pscarb UK-Muscle Moderator and NABBA Champion Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10,188	Now a good diet is one that meets your goals...there is no such thing as a standard diet as we are all diffrent.... so what is your current diet?? __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Admin at To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent everything else is just the icing on the cake

20-08-2006, 05:41 PM	#7 (permalink)
hackskii UK-Muscle Moderator Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sunny Southern California U.S.A. Posts: 23,185	Yah but HIIT can raise GH and testosterone far higher than that fat burning zone thing. You only need to look at the sprinters and long distance runners and see their muscle conditions to draw conclusions. __________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." - George Carlin Scott To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

20-08-2006, 07:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
JDN21 Newbie Trainer Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 36	Breakfast High Fibre Bran 3 Scrambled Eggs 1 Slice Cheddar Cheese 1 Slice Ham Snack 50g Nuts Protein Shake Lunch Lean Meat Spinach Pineapple Post Workout Banana Protein Shake Tea Lean Meat Veg/Rice 6 Fish Oil Caps throughout the day, loads of water. Does Creatine have any effect on this matter at all?

20-08-2006, 10:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pscarb UK-Muscle Moderator and NABBA Champion Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 10,188	as you have said you are a distance runner and you do this on this diet??? how the hell do you last running long distances with this diet?? although you have not put amounts down i would estimate you are not getting any more than 150g of carbs and that is very rough estimate plus i cannot see anything that consists of slow burning carbs. where is the Pasta or Oats, Rice, Spuds?? i think you have the protein side of things covered but i am really confused as this diet does not meet the goals you are looking for as a long distance runner..... HIIT training does raise both Test and GH levels but this is not your goal your goal is stamina and this is acheived by running long distances either on a treadmill or on the streets and to do this you need carbs.... __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Admin at To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent everything else is just the icing on the cake