general fitness. Regardless of your long term goals, always begin an exercise program at low intensity. Aerobic exercise does not have to be painful to be beneficial! There are two ways to measure your exercise intensity. The first is by monitoring your heart rate, and second is by evaluating your perceived exertion level (this is simpler than it sounds!).
PERCEIVED EXERTION LEVEL
The way to gauge your exercise intensity is to evaluate your perceived exertion level. If while exercising you are too winded to maintain a conversation without gasping, you are working out too hard. A good rule of thumb is to work to the point of exhilaration, not exhaustion. If you cannot catch your breath, it’s time to slow down. Always be aware of other warning signs to overexertion.
ACHIEVING YOUR FITNESS GOALS
An important step in developing a long term fitness program is to
determine your goals. Is your primary goal for exercising on your |
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Vision Fitness Product to lose weight? Improve muscle? Burn Stress? |
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Prepare for the spring racing schedule? Knowing what your goals |
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are will help you develop a more successful exercise program. |
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Below are some common exercise goals: |
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•Weight Loss | •Weight Maintenance |
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•Improve Body Shape and Tone •Strengthen Leg Muscles |
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•Increased Energy Level •Improved Sleep Patterns |
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•Improved Cycling/Cross Sports Performance |
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•Improved Cardiovascular Endurance |
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•Stress Reduction |
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If possible try to define your personal goals in precise, measurable |
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terms, and then put your goals in writing. The more specific you |
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can be, the easier it will be to track your progress. If your goals are |
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long term, divide them up into monthly and weekly segments. |
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Longer term goals can lose some of the immediate motivation |
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benefits. Short term goals are easier to achieve. Your Vision Fitness |
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Product console provides you with several readouts that can be | 77 | |
used to record your progress. You can track Distance, Calories or |
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Time. Time is the most important and useful of test functions.