WHAT IS THE F.I.T. CONCEPT?
CHAPTER SIX: DESIGNING AN EXERCISE PROGRAM
The workout portion of your exercise program consists of three major variables: Frequency, Intensity, and Time.
Frequency: How Often You Exercise
You should exercise three to five times a week to improve your cardiovascular and muscle fitness. Improvements are significantly smaller with less frequent exercise.
Intensity: How Hard You Exercise
Intensity of exercise is reflected in your heart rate. Exercise must be sufficiently rigorous to strengthen your heart muscle and condition your cardiovascular system. Only your doctor can prescribe the target training heart range appropriate for your particular needs and physical condition.
Start with exercise that stimulates you to breathe more deeply.
Alternate days of moderate and easy exercise to help your body adapt to new levels of exertion without unnecessary strain.
If you feel out of breath before you have exercised 12 minutes, you are probably exercising too hard.
As your fitness level improves, you will need to increase your workout intensity in order to reach your target heart rate. The first increase may be necessary after two to four weeks of regular exercise. Never exceed your target heart rate zone. Increase the workload on the ESX, TSXa + TSX to raise your heart rate to the level recommended by your doctor.
ESX, TSXA + TSX OWNER’S GUIDE | 36 |
|