Conditioning Guidelines, Exercise Intensity

CONDITIONING GUIDELINES

WARNING: Before beginning this or any exercise program, consult your physician. This is especially important for individuals over the age of 35 or individuals with pre-existing health problems.

The following guidelines will help you to plan your exercise program. For more detailed exercise informa- tion, obtain a reputable book or consult your physician.

EXERCISE INTENSITY

Whether your goal is to burn fat or to strengthen your cardiovascular system, the key to achieving the desired results is to exercise with the proper intensity. The proper intensity level can be found by using your heart rate as a guide. The chart below shows recom- mended heart rates for fat burning and aerobic exer- cise.

To find the proper heart rate for you, first find your age at the bottom of the chart (ages are rounded off to the nearest ten years). Next, find the three numbers above your age. The three numbers are your “training zone.” The lower two numbers are recommended heart rates for fat burning; the highest number is the recommended heart rate for aerobic exercise.

Fat Burning

To burn fat effectively, you must exercise at a relatively low intensity level for a sustained period of time. During the first few minutes of exercise, your body uses easily accessible carbohydrate calories for ener- gy. Only after the first few minutes does your body begin to use stored fat calories for energy. If your goal is to burn fat, adjust the speed and incline of the tread- mill until your heart rate is near one of the lower two numbers in your training zone.

Aerobic Exercise

If your goal is to strengthen your cardiovascular sys- tem, your exercise must be “aerobic.” Aerobic exercise is activity that requires large amounts of oxygen for prolonged periods of time. This increases the demand on the heart to pump blood to the muscles, and on the lungs to oxygenate the blood. For aerobic exercise, adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill until your heart rate is near the highest number in your training zone.

HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE

To measure your

heart rate, stop exer- cising and place two fingers on your wrist as shown. Take a six- second heartbeat

count, and multiply the result by ten to find your heart rate.

(A six-second count is used because your heart rate drops quickly when you stop exercising.) If your heart rate is too high or too low, adjust the speed or incline of the treadmill accordingly.

WORKOUT GUIDELINES

A well-rounded workout includes the following three important parts:

A Warm-up

Start each workout with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching and light exercise. A proper warm-up increases your body temperature, heart rate, and circulation in prepa- ration for exercise.

Training Zone Exercise

After warming up, increase the intensity of your exer- cise until your pulse is in your training zone for 20 to 60 minutes. (During the first few weeks of your exer- cise program, do not keep your pulse in your training zone for longer than 20 minutes.) Breathe regularly and deeply as you exercise—never hold your breath.