CONDITIONING GUIDELINES
The following guidelines will help you to plan your
exercise program. Remember that proper nutrition
and adequate rest are essential for successful results.
EXERCISE INTENSITY
Whether yourgoal isto burn fat or to strengthen your
cardiovascular 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. The chart below shows recom-
mended heart rates forfat burning, maximum fat
burning, and cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise.
165 155 145 140 130 125 115 _
145 138 130 125 118 110 103 _)
125 120 115 110 105 95 90
20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Tofind the proper heart rate for you, first find your age
at the bottom of the chart (ages are rounded off to the
nearest ten years). Next, find the three numbers above
your age. The three numbers are your "training zone."
The lowest number is the recommended heart rate for
fat burning, the middle number is the recommended
heart rate for maximum fat burning, and the highest
number is the recommended heart rate for aerobic
exercise.
Burning Fat
To burn fat effectively, you must exercise at a relative-
ly low intensity level for a sustained period of time.
During the first few minutes of exercise, your body
uses easily accessible carbohydrate calories for ener-
gy. Only after the first few minutes of exercise does
your body begin to use stored fat calories for energy.
Ifyour goal is to burn fat, adjust the intensity of your
exercise until your heart rate is near the lowest num-
ber in your training zone as you exercise. For maxi-
mum fat burning, adjust the intensity of your exercise
until your heart rate is near the middle number in your
training zone as you exercise.
Aerobic Exercise
Ifyour goal is to strengthen your cardiovascular sys-
tem, your exercise must be "aerobic." Aerobic exer-
cise is activity that requires large amounts of oxygen
for prolonged periods oftime. 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 highest number in your
training zone.
WORKOUT GUIDELINES
Each workout should include the following three parts:
A warm-up, consisting of 5 to 10 minutes of stretching
and light exercise. A proper warm-up increases your
body temperature, heart rate, and circulation in prepa-
ration for exercise.
Training zone exercise, consisting of 20 to 30 min-
utes of exercising with your heart rate in your training
zone. (During the first few weeks of your exercise pro-
gram, do not keep your heart rate in your training
zone for longer than 20 minutes.)
A cool-down, with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching (see
page 12). This will increase the flexibility of your mus-
cles and will help to prevent post-exercise problems.
EXERClSEFREQUENCY
Tomaintain or improve your condition, plan three work-
outs each week, with at least one day of rest between
workouts. After a few months of regular exercise, you
may complete up to five workouts each week, if
desired. Remember, the key to success is make exer-
cise a regular and enjoyable part of your everyday life.
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