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Define Your Goals
It is important to define your goals before you begin your workout routine. The following fitness guidelines will help you
define your goals and choose your fitness program.
Muscle Strength is the maximum force that you
can exert against resistance at one time. Your muscle
strength comes into play when you pick up a heavy bag
of groceries or lift a small child. It is developed when a
localized muscle is worked both positively (concentric)
and negatively (eccentric) at a resistance—great
enough so you can perform only five to eight repetitions
of the exercise before the muscle fails. Each set of
repetitions is followed by a rest interval that typically
runs three times longer than the set. Later, between
exercise sessions, the muscle overcompensates for the
stress and usually increases in both strength and size.
Muscle Endurance is the ability to perform repeated
contractions. It comes into play when you cross-country
ski or work on your feet all day. Endurance training
addresses the slow twitch, endurance muscle fibers,
which depend on oxygen for energy. To develop muscle
endurance, use low resistance and high repetitions
about 15-20 repetitions in each set, three sets to each
exercise, working the muscle only to fatigue.
Muscle Power is the combination of strength and
speed of the muscular contraction. This is often
misinterpreted as; a) being directly associated with
certain skill or sport and/or; b) meaning that you must
move fast. Load is actually a more important factor than
speed when attempting to improve power. When training
to achieve muscular power, pick a resistance that
fatigues you in the 3-5 repetition range. When performing
these reps, it is more important to think of contracting
the muscles faster rather than attempting to move
faster. Performing sport simulation exercises usually
results in a deterioration of the motor pattern or skill.
The biomechanically sound method of improving power
in your sport is to train for power using the correct joint
movements, as described in this manual. Then practice
the skill associated with your sport, learning to apply this
newly achieved power.
Body Composition is the ratio of fat weight (fat) to
lean weight (muscles, bones and tissue). As you age, the
ratio shifts. The fat weight increases and the lean weight
decreases. Training for muscle strength will generally
increase muscle size and aerobic conditioning will
help burn extra calories. Performing these two forms of
exercise, either at different times or together, will create
the greatest changes in body fat weight. Balanced
Strength and alignment are the result of equal strength
developed in all parts of the body. It comes into play in
your standing and sitting posture, and in your ability to
perform just about any activity safely and effectively. An
over-development of the back will round the shoulders;
weak or stretched abdominals can cause lower back
pain. You want a balance of muscle strength in front
and back. In addition, you need a balance of strength
between your middle, lower, and upper body.
Flexibility is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles
to move the joint through a full range of motion. Flexibility
comes into play when you execute an overhand serve or
stretch for the top shelf in the kitchen. It is a cooperative
movement of opposite muscle groups. When a muscle
contracts, its opposite muscle group must relax for the
action to occur. Increased exibility means an increased
range of motion, made possibly by this simultaneous
contracting and relaxing. Good exibility is important
in protecting the body from injury and can be achieved
through the balanced strength training programs that are
included in this manual.
Cardiovascular Endurance is the ability of the heart
and lungs to supply oxygen and nutrients to exercising
muscles over an extended period of time. It comes into
play when you jog a mile or ride a bike. It is a critical
component of overall fitness and health.
Owner’s Manual
12