EXERCISE GUIDELINES
THE FOUR BASIC TYPES OF WORKOUTS  | PERSONALIZING YOUR EXERCISE PROGRAM  | 
Muscle Building | Determining the appropriate length of time for each  | 
To increase the size and strength of your muscles,  | workout, and the numbers of repetitions and sets to  | 
push them close to their maximum capacity. Your mus-  | complete, is an individual matter. Avoid overdoing it  | 
cles will continually adapt and grow as you progres-  | during the first few months of your exercise program.  | 
sively increase the intensity of your exercise. You can  | Progress at your own pace and be sensitive to your  | 
adjust the intensity level of an individual exercise in  | body’s signals. If you experience pain or dizziness  | 
two ways:  | while exercising, stop immediately and cool down; find  | 
• by changing the amount of resistance used  | out what is wrong before continuing. Remember that  | 
• by changing the number of repetitions or sets per-  | adequate rest and a proper diet are important factors  | 
formed. (A “repetition” is one complete cycle of an  | in any exercise program.  | 
exercise, such as one   | WARMING UP | 
repetitions.)  | |
The proper amount of resistance for each exercise  | Begin each workout with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching  | 
depends upon the individual user. You must gauge  | and light exercise to warm up. Warming up prepares  | 
your limits and select the amount of resistance that is  | your body for more strenuous exercise by increasing  | 
right for you. Begin with 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each  | circulation, raising your body temperature and deliver-  | 
exercise you perform. Rest for 3 minutes after each  | ing more oxygen to your muscles.  | 
set. When you can complete 3 sets of 12 repetitions  | WORKING OUT | 
without difficulty, increase the amount of resistance.  | |
Toning | Each workout should include 6 to 10 different exercis-  | 
You can tone your muscles by pushing them to a mod-  | es. Select exercises for every major muscle group,  | 
erate percentage of their capacity. Select a moderate  | emphasizing areas that you want to develop most. To  | 
amount of resistance and increase the number of rep-  | give balance and variety to your workouts, vary the  | 
etitions in each set. Complete as many sets of 15 to  | exercises from session to session.  | 
20 repetitions as possible without discomfort. Rest for  | Schedule your workouts for the time of day when your  | 
1 minute after each set. Work your muscles by com-  | |
pleting more sets rather than by using high amounts of  | energy level is the highest. Each workout should be  | 
resistance.  | followed by at least one day of rest. Once you find the  | 
Weight Loss | schedule that is right for you, stick with it.  | 
To lose weight, use a low amount of resistance and  | EXERCISE FORM | 
increase the number of repetitions in each set.  | Maintaining proper form is an essential part of an  | 
Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes, resting for a maximum  | |
of 30 seconds between sets.  | effective exercise program. This requires moving  | 
Cross Training | through the full range of motion for each exercise, and  | 
moving only the appropriate parts of the body.  | |
Cross training is an efficient way to get a complete and  | Exercising in an uncontrolled manner will leave you  | 
feeling exhausted. On the exercise guide accompany-  | |
anced program follows:  | ing this manual you will find photographs showing the  | 
• Plan strength training workouts on Monday,  | correct form for several exercises, and a list of the  | 
Wednesday, and Friday.  | muscles affected. Refer to the muscle chart on the  | 
• Plan 20 to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as  | next page to find the names of the muscles.  | 
running on a treadmill or riding on an elliptical exer-  | The repetitions in each set should be performed  | 
ciser or exercise cycle, on Tuesday and Thursday.  | |
• Rest from both strength training and aerobic exercise  | smoothly and without pausing. The exertion stage of  | 
for at least one full day each week to give your body  | each repetition should last about half as long as the  | 
time to regenerate.  | return stage. Proper breathing is important. Exhale  | 
The combination of strength training and aerobic exer-  | during the exertion stage of each repetition and inhale  | 
during the return stage. Never hold your breath.  | |
cise will reshape and strengthen your body, plus devel-  | 
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op your heart and lungs.  | 
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