Ironman Fitness Edge Warm-Up Workout Cool Down

Workout Information

Warm-Up Workout Cool Down

A good warm-up will help you perform better and will decrease the aches and pains. The warm-

up prepares your muscles for exercise and allows your oxygen supply to ready itself for what is

to come. Experience tells us that muscles perform best when they are warmer than normal body

temperature. This normally takes about 5-10 minutes when you begin to perspire on your brow

and breathe more deeply.

Note: The older you are, the longer your warm-up period should be.

A workout trains your heart, lungs, and muscles to be more efficient. Increase exercise in

response to your heart rate to train and strengthen your cardiovascular system. Concentrate on

moving your arms and legs smoothly. Walking naturally and avoid jerking motions like pulled

muscles, sprained joints, and loss of balance.

If you cannot sustain 12 continuous minutes in your target heart rate zone, then, exercise sev-

eral times a day to get into habit. Try to reach and maintain 60-65% of your maximum heart

rate. Alternate exercise with periods of rest until you can sustain 12 continuous minutes of

exercise at 60-65% of your maximum heart rate. Best start with a target of 3-4 minutes, then,

increase it gradually.

If you can sustain 12 but not 20 continuous minutes of exercise in your target heart rate

zone:

• Exercise 3-5 days a week. Rest at least two days per week.

• Try to reach and maintain 65-70% of your maximum heart rate with moderate rhythmic

exercises.

• Begin with 12 continuous minutes. Increase your time by one to two minutes per week until

you can sustain 20 continuous minutes.

If you can sustain 20 minutes continuously in your target heart rate zone, begin to increase the

length and intensity of your workout.

Exercise 4-6 days a week or on alternate days.

Try to reach and maintain 70~85% of your maximum heart rate with moderate to somewhat

hard exercise.

Exercise 20-30 minutes.

WARNING: These strategies are intended for average healthy adults. If you have pain or tight-

ness in your chest, an irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath or you feel faint or have any dis-

comfort when you exercise STOP. Consult your physician before continuing. Remember every

workout should begin with warm-up and finished with cool-down.

The cool-down allows your body’s cardiovascular system to gradually return to normal and

should be roughly 5-10 minutes. Lower your exercise intensity gradually, and when your heart

rate has returned below 110 beats per minutes, you can end your workout.