Cutting Down On Cardio....

[LB_SpecV]

So, I have been having problems with my calf for the past week or so, and I was unable to cycle today, so instead I rowed, which didint bother it that much, although right now it is bothering me a bit but I am R.I.C.E'ing. Although I do pretty highly intense stationary cycle workouts over about an hour and a half, today I did 45 minutes of rowing instead.

The difference was, I noticed how my heart rate was high for the entire rowing session, around 145-160, for 45 minutes, as opposed to cycling for about 90 minutes, where my heart rate hovers around 120, and gets up to the 145bpm mark for 20 seconds about every 5 minutes, when I do higher intensity intervals.

My major question is: Although I calculated through online calculators and using the machines computer that when I rowed I burned 520 calories, and when I cycle I burn about 1100. Although the numbers are so far off from each other, does intensity play a big part in overall calories burned for the day, maybe due to a higher elevated metabolism, or some other factors?

Thanx in advance ofr any responses,

MiKe

 

[P-funk]

did you (or someone else) ask this exact question last week?


any way, yes, intensity matters.

your heart rate was higher on the row because it is something different then you are used to doing. Your muscles are not used to that type of cardiovascular exercise and your exercise economy is different.

 

[CowPimp]

Upper body caridiovascular exercise leads to a slightly elevated heart rate over lower body cardiovascular exercise at equivalent workloads. In addition, you use both your upper and lower body in rowing.

Also, as P said, you haven't adapted and become efficient at rowing like you have with cycling.

 

[P-funk]

have you ever seen the study that basically showed that cardiovascular adaptations are muscular related?

Basically, they took people and trained them on a 1-leg cycle ergometer (so they only pedaled with one leg) for several days and allowed their cardiovascular system to adapt adequatly. They then switched legs to see if the cardiovascular adaptations would still be in effect. They weren't! Pedaling with the other leg, the person tired out quicker and wasn't able to handle the same workload. Even cardio is muscular.

 

[CowPimp]

have you ever seen the study that basically showed that cardiovascular adaptations are muscular related?

Basically, they took people and trained them on a 1-leg cycle ergometer (so they only pedaled with one leg) for several days and allowed their cardiovascular system to adapt adequatly. They then switched legs to see if the cardiovascular adaptations would still be in effect. They weren't! Pedaling with the other leg, the person tired out quicker and wasn't able to handle the same workload. Even cardio is muscular.

Yeah, makes sense: neural efficiency, local enzyme concentrations, capillary density of the muscles in question, increased glycogen stores, etc.