Heartrate zone training for show prep?

[Tweak]

Hey all! :wavey:

As many of you know, i'm about 3.5 weeks out from my first show and about 7.5 weeks out from my second.

I ran into a friend of mine who I've competed with last night and we started talking about training, etc and she asked me if I've ever gotten my Vo2 assessed or if I do heartrate zone training for ultimate fat loss.

I'm like... :dunno:

Never heard of Vo2 and I've not done a lick of heartrate zone training since my triathlon since I associate that with endurance sports.

She is swearing up and down that it will make a night and day difference for me. I'm just curious to your opinions on it? I've just been running and doing HIIT, nothing particularly scientific.

Opinions?

[PeteM]

VO2 max is the maximal amount of oxygen that you can take into your body. Typicaly measured in terms of ml.kg-1.min-1. It can be used a way to gauge intensity of training, ie. exercising at x% of your VO2max. Direct measurement takes place in a laboratory setting, so for many it is impractical. There are many tests that will measure indirectly and are based on how your heart rate responds to a given work load as there is a fairly liner relationship between HR and VO2 max.

I assume that you what your friend is referencing is the so called 'fat burning zone', where fat makes up the primary souce of energy. If that is what she means, then it is more of a miss understanding on her part. I posted my thoughts on the 'fat burning zone' here. (http://www.afboard.com/forum/showthread.php?38421-Low-intensity-Cardio-and-the-Fat-Burning-Zone&highlight=fat+burning+zone)

I would keep with your HIIT

[Tweak]

Thanks Pete!

I can get the VO2 measured for free at my gym but it sounds like it isn't very practical.

IMO, I feel better doing HIIT than I do doing steady cardio. I'd rather feel exhausted and do it for shorter spans than crank away for 2 hours a day. I'm digging the HIIT so maybe I'll just stick with it.

[PeteM]

As another point, long steady state work has shown that type II fibers will, over time take on characteristics of Type I fibers. Type II are explosive fibers that are prone to hypertrophy and growth - Type I, not so much. Marathoners are filled with Type I, sprinters, Type II

[T-Cake]

As another point, long steady state work has shown that type II fibers will, over time take on characteristics of Type I fibers. Type II are explosive fibers that are prone to hypertrophy and growth - Type I, not so much. Marathoners are filled with Type I, sprinters, Type II
And to boot, most competitors are seeking the physiques of sprinters over marathon runners anyway, so I am with Pete, Tweak -- stick to the HIIT and the sprints. More efficient, especially at this point in the game for you when time and energy are of the essence.