As a Personal Trainer I am often asked the question is cardio best for fat loss . I thought I would write and article on this and clear the whole thing up

So we all know that High Interval and conditioning training uses every energy system in the body . But what effect does this have on Fat loss ? Many Personal trainers and Coaches sadly still believe that lengthy boring aerobic workouts are needed.

Aerobic exercise was once thought as the daddy of Fat loss , as we all know that fat is the preferred fuel choice at low intensity activity. The body will basically burn free fatty acids for fuel when participating at lower intensity activity .This changes when you increase the intensity of the exercise your body will start to burn less fat as fuel. Many people believe this is not effective for fat loss and when you first look at things it makes sense . performing conditioning burns less fat so how can this be better for fat loss ? surely lengthy aerobic exercise is better for burning fat ?

Unfortunately people who focus just on the fuel source used during the exercise are not seeing the bigger picture and don’t consider what their body does for the rest of the day . What about the other 23 hours when you’re not exercising. What does your body do during these hours . Let me answer this for you NOTHING.

Research has confirmed that fat loss is not dependant on the fuel source (Not the fuel you burn whilst exercising) . You must focus on what happens after your workout has finished that’s what is important when looking at the bigger picture regarding fat loss.

High intensity exercise leads to higher post exercise energy expenditure This means your resting metabolic rate (BMR) is elevated for longer after your workout has ended .

This means that when you’re sat on your bum watching TV after your high intensity exercise has finished your body will carry on burning more calories than it would burn after finishing low intensity exercise . In fact studies have proved that you BMR will return back to normal almost immediately after your low intensity workout has ended . (The minute you step of the treadmill or bike you BMR will return to normal)

Science confirms that High intensity exercise will raise your metabolic rate for a longer period of time, This results in post exercise lipid oxidation . This means that even know your body burns less fat during high intensity exercise compared to low intensity exercise a larger amount of calories will be burned in the hours after the workout has ended . Also known as the recovery period . Your body burns extra calories to repair damaged muscle tissue and fibres aswell as other things involved in high intensity training. When a persona’s goal is fat loss they must focus on the overall calories being used not just the energy source being used during the actual exercise.

Jay Farrant Personal Trainer Dublin .

The ABS Gym personal training studio Dublin