This morning my Polar told me that...(and a question) page

[Shrinking_Violet]

I was no longer 'fairly fit', I am now 'adequately' fit! One more Fitness OwnIndex point and I'll be in the 'good' zone - I've only had the thing a week!

This is good. Sarah likes this.

And, I know it doesn't mean anything (because I know we're not supposed to judge how many cals we burn) but I've gone from burning 3.25 cals/min last week to 5.5kcals/min this. Though, disappointingly, only my fitness is improving this week, not my fat burning (though this does beg the question, if I'm not burning fat, what am I burning? I'm never coming out of Zone 2 (except when I sprint). Zone 2 is between 60 and 75% max HR, which I thought was the 'golden' FBZ? The most it's ever told me I've burnt, fat-wise, is 42% - so what was it burning the other 58% of the time...?)

It's a Polar FT60, if anyone knows anything about 'em...

[chronyx]

Well done Sarah. Try and focus on the general pattern and flow of the numbers, not each and every one; ebbs and peaks

[Al_Kavadlo]

so what was it burning the other 58% of the time...?)

You're burning glycogen (stored sugar), which is your body's primary energy supply. You're probably also burning a bit of protein. Regardless of intensity, your body is almost always using a combination of fuel sources.

Well done Sarah. Try and focus on the general pattern and flow of the numbers, not each and every one; ebbs and peaks

I concur.

[runnerbean]

Hi Sarah,
The Polar %fat burning is just an estimate based on the %hr that you are training at. To figure out how much fat YOU are actually burning at various intensities requires a much more complicated test. If you're able to work harder and burn more calories at the same effort, you're definitely burning more fat too. Eating a lower carb diet will also generally cause a higher %fat utilization. So I wouldn't worry about it. Sounds like you are doing an awesome job getting fitter