How Long Should I Exercise?

The length of each exercise session depends on your fitness level. Exercise physiologists have determined that, to attain cardiovascular benefits from exercise, you should maintain your heart rate in the training zone for at least 15 minutes. This is in addition to your warm-up time, and does not include cool- down. You should always allow several minutes to bring your heart rate into the training zone, by starting out slowly and gradually increasing the work level. Similarly, use several minutes of light exercise after the workout to bring your heart rate down to near resting level.

The higher your fitness level, the longer you should maintain your heart rate in the training zone (between 20 and 30 minutes). Beginners should always start slowly and gradually increase their sessions up to 20 minutes or more.

How Often Should I Exercise?

Research indicates that aerobic sessions of 20 minutes or more should be done at least three to five times a week to obtain significant cardiovascular benefits. Most experts agree that sensible eating habits and regular aerobic exercise are the keys to weight control and fitness. A recent study, which tracked several subjects over a period of years, conclusively shows that exercise, not dieting, is the key factor to successful long-term weight loss.

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