Conditioning Guidelines, Exercise Intensity

CONDITIONING GUIDELINES

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

The heart rate monitor is not a medical de- vice. Various factors may affect the accuracy of heart rate readings. The heart rate monitor is intended only as an exercise aid in deter- mining heart rate trends in general.

The following guidelines will help you to plan your ex- ercise program. For more detailed information about exercise, obtain a book or consult your physician.

EXERCISE INTENSITY

Whether your goal is to burn fat or strengthen your car- diovascular 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. For effective exercise, your heart rate should be maintained at a level between 65% and 85% of your maximum heart rate as you exercise. This is known as your training zone. You can find your training zone in the table below. Training zones are listed ac- cording to age and physical condition.

			Training Zone (Beats/Min.)


	Age		Unconditioned		Conditioned



20		138-167		133-162

25		136-166		132-160

30		135-164		130-158

35		134-162		129-156

40		132-161		127-155

45		131-159		125-153

50		129-156		124-150

55		127-155		122-149

60		126-153		121-147

65		125-151		119-145

70		123-150		118-144

75		122-147		117-142

80		120-146		115-140

Burning Fat

To burn fat, you must exercise at a low intensity level for a sustained period of time. During the first few minutes of exercise, your body uses easily accessible carbohydrate calories for energy. Only after the first few minutes of exercise does your body begin to use stored fat calories for energy. If your goal is to burn fat, adjust the intensity of your exercise until your heart rate is near the low end of your training zone as you exercise.

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 intensity of your exercise until your heart rate is near the middle of your training zone.

WORKOUT GUIDELINES

Each workout should include the following three impor- tant parts:

A Warm-up—Warming up prepares the body for exer- cise by increasing circulation, delivering more oxygen to the muscles, and raising the body temperature.

Begin each workout with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching and light exercise to warm up.

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

A cool-down—Finish each workout with 5 to 10 min- utes of stretching to cool down. This will increase the flexibility of your muscles and will help to prevent post- exercise problems.

EXERCISE FREQUENCY

To maintain or improve your condition, complete three workouts each week, with at least one day of rest be- tween workouts. After a few months, you may com- plete up to five workouts each week if desired. The key to success is to make exercise a regular and enjoyable part of your everyday life.