189: Facts About Fitness Trackers & Heart Rate Zones

<p>I've been getting a lot of questions about calorie burn during workouts (as reported by cardio machines), wearable fitness trackers and the validity of target heart rate zones for fat burnings. So, of course, we're diving into those topics today.</p> <p>In today's episode I'll be diving into the myths & facts about fitness trackers, heart rate zones and the accuracy of calorie counters on your workout equipment.</p> <p>While folks who are working out have awesome intentions, they're often misguided based on inaccurate or incomplete information. If you are something who uses a fitness wearable, pays attention to the calorie burn on your workout equipment or monitors your heart rate, you do not want to miss this episode!</p> <p><a href= "http://primalpotential.com/189-fitness-trackers-heart-rate-zones/"> http://primalpotential.com/189-fitness-trackers-heart-rate-zones/</a></p> <h2>Myths & Facts About Fitness Trackers, Heart Rate Zones and Calorie Burn During Workouts</h2> <p>Lots of people use the amount of calories they think they burned during a workout to help them determine how many calories they should consume that day. In most cases, that is highly inaccurate information.</p> <p>First of all, that approach assumes that the calorie in/calorie out model is the most effective or accurate model for fat loss. It's not. If you aren't sure why it's not, please go no further until you've listened to <a href= "http://primalpotential.com/calorie-counting-doesnt-work/">episode 062 of the Primal Potential podcast</a> on why calorie counting is misleading.</p> <p>Second of all, these calorie counting devices do not collect much of the relevant information that would allow for an accurate determination of calorie burn.</p> <p>By knowing your pace on the machine and age/weight, you know a little, but not nearly enough to determine calories burned with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Among other things, they overlook:</p> <ul> <li>fitness level</li> <li>exertion</li> <li>body composition</li> <li>nutrition status</li> <l