You are currently browsing the Breaking Through - The Trinity Fitness Blog weblog archives for the day October 13, 2006.
October 13, 2006 by erin.
During the first few days at a higher altitude where the air is thinner and contains less oxygen the body responds as follows:*breathing rate (ventilation) increases
*blood pH decreases, becoming more acidic
*muscle pH also decreases and becomes more acidic
*use of carbohydrates as an energy source increases
*use of fat as an energy source decreases
These changes lead to a slight increase in resting metabolic rate (RMR), the amount of energy your body expends at rest in a 24 hour period. Research indicates a 6 - 28% increase in overall RMR in women and men at high altitudes. Within a few weeks, the increase in RMR lowers, but does not return completely to baseline, so metabolism is slightly elevated at higher altitudes.
It might seem that you can expend more calories while exercising at high altitudes; but, this is not necessarily true. There’s not a huge difference in the amount of calories burned at a higher altitude during exercise even though it may feel as though you are working much harder. The few extra calories used are a result of increased breathing to get more oxygen into the body, which means more work for the rib cage and other muscles involved in ventilation. So even though ventilation increases to deliver the oxygen necessary to sustain activity, it doesn’t mean a person is expending more energy while exercising.
Posted in Fitness Tips, Exercise, Wellness | No Comments »