Can you loose weight with light activity over a long time?

Question

I keep hearing that in order to burn fat during exercise, you HAVE to increase your heart rate big-time. Diet aside, I wonder if you can burn fat doing very light activity for a long period of time? For example, I'm looking at this Mini Cycle where I can cycle (at say 4mph, very light) while I work (a good 8 hours at my desk). http://www.medicalproductsdirect.com/phthexpebydr.html

Surely I could loose weight like that?

Answer 1

To lose weight you don't want your heart rate up too high.

That's why Curves for Women works well... they do the circuit training without getting really high heart rates.

Also building muscle, which burns more fat when you are resting, is a good way to get started.

Definitely light activity is better, and you can build youself up to doing more things.  And your heart rate won't go up as quickly.

Answer 2

The science bears it out.  Check out the work of Dr. Dean Ornish (the reversing heart disease guy) - his studies showed that walkers could burn as much fat as runners.

Answer 3

Well, in theory you could but you wouldn't lose a dramatic amount of weight unless you have a good diet. But that really goes with any type of exercising.

If you try it out, I'd like to hear how it went for you.