I don't really keep up with exercise information (but I'm starting) and I'm not sure how I should be doing it. Since Jan 03 I've been doing an elliptical workout for about 35 mins (including cool-down) at least 3x a week. The precor machine doesn't have a heart monitor so I've just been doing what I can and progressing. A normal 35 min workout for me is about 450 cals now not including weights before and after.

Last week we got a new machine at work in (don't recall the name) and it has a heart rate monitor with Zones for fat burning workouts etc. I'm male, 21, 5' 8", just around 160 now (thanx to atkins), and my resting heart rate is 60-65. The machine said my fat burning zone THR should be around 129. I normally do a small wieghts program before the elliptical and I'm pretty sure I was over 129 even to start with. Going as slow as I could on the stupid thing without it pausing on me, I coudln't get my rate any lower than ~140. It took nearly 50 mins to get to my normal 450 calories. At 140 I was sweating but it felt like I was just walking around doing nothing. I'm scared to know what my HR is when I'm on the precor at 190+ strides/min. I did some surfing on the web and found some articles saying that the fat burning zone isn't really a sound concept and that a normal cardio burns more fat anyways. Also found some articles saying the opposite. Who's to believe? My main goal is to loose more weight not participate in marathons or anything.

Thanks kindly,
Sox

Consider this...

On a LC WOE, you should normally be in a "fat burning" zone no matter what. Now, of course, on days you simply putz around, that means you burn VERY little fat. However, once you kick it up, you are going deeper into your fat stores.

Still, from a practical point of view, how well you are able to maintain a given level of exertion will depend on how well your body has adapted to this WOE, the level of exertion, and the extent of that exertion. My personal experience is similar to yours in that I don't feel like I am doing a darn thing if I stay in the 60-70% range of max HR and on top of that, I have a fairly long endurance when I work at 70-80% without feeling the need to supplement my daily carb quota unless I am going more than 2 hours at it.

Like so much of learning to eat and be healthier, it is important that we study what we are doing, practice it consistantly, and plan for controlled experimentation with our plan to make it OUR plan. Too many health gurus have to cater to the lazy minions that won't do any independent research. They want instant fixes without any of their own work. (sorry, soap box LOL)

SOOOO... Keep track of what is working for you. Be patient and learn to adapt what ever program you are on (eating, working, recreation, exercise) to one that you can live with for a long time.

YMMV