Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025) • Hacker News Board

Re: Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025)

#191

Post by nkmnz » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 6:16 PM UTC

meroes wrote: post #187

nkmnz wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is incorrect. Each minute of fast running bruns more fat than a minute of slower running. Longer slower running burns more fat only because you can do it for a longer period time, increasing total energy expenditure over the whole workout. If you want to maximize fat loss, you still need to maximize energy expenditure. If the available time is fixed and low, HIIT is the way to go. If the available time isn't fix…

Are you sure you’re talking about fat and not total calories? The whole premise about Zone 2 running vs Zones 3/4 is you really do burn more grams of fat at the lower Zone per minute. https://cannonbol.com/blog/articles/Achten_%282004%29.pdf?ut...

You are right in the literal sense of "burning fat" = oxidation of triglycerides. I'm used to a more figuratively use of the term in weight loss discussions, referring to "losing body fat", which is the result of total calorie deficits, increased fat oxidation and reduced fat synthesis. Depleting the glycogen storage helps to reduce fat synthesis from ingested carbohydrates, so even if the fat molecules aren't burned directly due to the higher intensity, you'll lose more fat tissue with higher intensity.

But again, yes, in the literal physiological sense, you're right.

Re: Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025)

#192

Post by ehnto » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 1:19 AM UTC

bluecheese452 wrote: post #69

ehnto wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hypertrophy and strength aren't as strongly linked as we thought. Generally for wellness, injury prevention, you want strength and flexibility.

What? They are incredibly linked.

They are linked, but what I meant was its not a 1:1 relationship. You can get stronger without as much hypertrophy, or you can get bigger without as much strength gain.

The only reason I mention it is because I often see people, especially men, assume getting bigger is the main focus of getting stronger and healthier. But a more holistic approach including stretching, functional strength excercises, cardio and balance training is perhaps more important

Re: Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025)

#193

Post by krsw » Fri, Jul 03, 2026, 6:16 PM UTC

alfiedotwtf wrote: post #82

thesz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

HIIT is a borderline strength training. Consider Tabata protocol. It is supermaximal effort protocol, participants are required to exert maximum effort repeatedly. The duration of active phase of Tabata is 20 seconds, half of approximately 40 seconds after which maximum performance (power output) drops significantly, because body switches to a different energy system. In my experience, Tabata squats are done in range…

So that’s for building muscle, but what about if you wanted to lose a few kilos and increase endurance for long distance running? What would be the way to go to optimise your time?

You will never lose weight through any kind of intense exercise alone. As the saying goes, "abs are made in the kitchen". Walking long distances can help burn a few extra, but any other workout is probably going to stimulate your appetite well beyond whatever calories are expended. This is especially true if you have a high food drive already (which you likely do if you tend to gain weight if you're not conscientious of your intake)

To be clear I'm not saying exercise is bad, but if weight loss is the goal figure out how CICO can work for you and adapt it into your workout regimen so you're not crushing 2 bags of Taco Bell after the gym. Also building muscle will naturally increase your resting caloric burn. All I'm saying is if you think you're gonna run 15km to offset that cinnamon bun, you're going to be much hungrier after the run than whatever satiation the treat provided.

*marathoners are the only exception to this rule since they'll burn more calories than you're ever likely going to be able to consume in a sitting.

Re: Exercise intensity influences body composition in healthy older adults (2025)

#194

Post by nevertoolate » Sat, Jul 04, 2026, 12:06 PM UTC

vidarh wrote: post #85

username135 wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The time off from exercise is not a bad thing; even when forced due to holidays and being sick, life et al. As we age, we need more of that rest time. For those of us on the back 9, its critical to avoid those injuries because they set us back.

Rest time of a couple of days is good. I'm not talking about that. But more than a week and you'll typically need to deload to avoid DOMS. More than a few weeks and it will start taking significant time to work back up, and a lot of injuries happens because people try to rush that recovery and add even more time to that. If you regularly lose weeks at higher age, it quickly becomes tricky to avoid tipping over into l…

Depends on the goal. If staying at a certain number is the goal yes, climbing two weeks back up will possibly take more and more time. If staying energetic and healthy is the goal the number becomes only one of the moving benchmarks.

With that said I think doing some kind of workout even on vacation is important.