The principle of fat burning is to reduce your body's overall fat content whilst building and maintaining lean muscle mass. Using a heart rate monitor makes it easier for you to monitor your individual workout intensity and ultimately determine the best way your body burns fat.

During exercise, there are many energy systems envolved and there is no exact formula to determine the intensity that optimizes an individuals fat burning. However, by using a Heart Rate Zone Calculator(see below) it is possible to estimate which heart rate levels will result in the highest level of fat burning. Using a heart rate monitor in conjunction with this information can help you optimize your workouts to burn fat.

The Fat Burning Zone
Definition: In the fat burning zone, the body utlizes stored fat for energy. At approximately 60-70% of your maximum heart rate, 85% of your calories burned in this zone are fats, 5% are proteins and 10% are carbohydrates.

At a higher rate of intensity fat burning still takes place however, there is more emphasis on anaerobic systems which generate lactic acid and burn proteins once you have run out of blood sugar