Sweating, running faster, suffering a little: we often associate these signs with the effectiveness of a workout. However, the best way to know if your body is really drawing on its fat is not read on a watch or in sweat.
When we want to lose weight, the reflex is often the same: go faster, sweat more. And yet, the more intense the effort, the more the body uses sugar as fuel. However, what we want are fats. And for these to melt, a sustained but controlled effort is required. Indeed, the right intensity is that which allows you to move enough to activate the metabolism without putting it on alert.
To know if the body is located in this “fat-burning” zone, it isessential to concentrate on your breathing. Indeed, for years, physiologists have observed that breathing faithfully reflects the intensity of effort. In other words, when you train, the faster your breathing, the more difficult it becomes to articulate. Thus, eBy observing your ability to speak during exercise, you instantly know where you are. Concretely, the principle is simple. If you can hold a normal conversation during your workout, the effort is light. On the other hand, if you can’t speak at all, it’s because you’re pushing too far.
The unstoppable benchmark for knowing if you are right in the zone where the body burns fat is when your breathing still allows you to chat, but no more. In other words, if at this moment you can still talk, but you can’t sing, that’s great! This medium intensity is the one that stimulates lipid metabolism without falling into exhaustion. However, if every word becomes a battle, it is because you have crossed the limit and your body mainly runs on sugar.
This marker works with all activities: brisk walking, cycling, running, swimming. Just listen to his breath. It’s an intuitive, free and surprisingly precise method for adjusting your effort and optimizing fat burning. So the next time you exercise, forget about numbers, calories and smartwatches. The secret lies elsewhere!
