What is the best heart rate to exercise at?

The days of fretting about the exact heart rate you should be exercising at are far behind us; at least they should be.

The claim that some magical intensity will burn more fat is just not true.

That’s right, the charts that grace nearly every exercise machine outlining the fat burning and cardio zones are based on misinterpreted science. The result of this confusion has been the over complication of exercise intensity and people fretting about whether or not they exercising at the perfect heart rate.

Even more baseless is the concept that your metabolism can be tested to determine this mythical fat burning intensity. 

Even if this concept held true, incessantly checking your heart rate would certainly take the fun out of your evening walk. The truth is that unless you are directed by a physician or have a pre-existing health condition, obsessing about your exact heart rate is a complete waste of time.

Even worse; it lessens the enjoyment of physical activity and heightens the notion that only certain forms of activity are good for you.

In a time when more than 2/3rds of adults don’t get enough physical activity and 2 in 10 kids are considered fit, complicating exercise with unfounded claims is exactly the wrong thing to do.

Exercise scientists now know that the most important factor when it comes to physical activity is that you do it! Simply put when it comes to physical activity, accumulation is king.

It is indeed true that 3 ten minute bouts of exercise are every bit as good as one 30 minute bout. In fact, three ten minute bouts of walking provides two more chances to get some fresh air, to de-stress and to take a break from work that may piling on your desk.

So what heart rate is the best heart rate to exercise at?  Simple, an elevated one.