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9
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 your goal is to 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 for fat burning, maximum fat
burning, and cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise.
To find the proper heart rate for you, first find your age
on 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 Òtraining
zone.Ó The lowest number is the recommended heart
rate for fat burning; the middle number is the heart
rate for maximum fat burning; the highest number is
the heart rate for aerobic exercise.
Burning Fat
To burn fat effectively, you must exercise at a rela-
tively 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.
If your 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 maximum fat burning, adjust the intensity of your
exercise until your heart rate is near the middle num-
ber in your training zone as you exercise.
Aerobic Exercise
If your goal is to strengthen your cardiovascular sys-
tem, your exercise must be Òaerobic.Ó Aerobic exer-
cise is activity that requires large amounts of oxygen
for prolonged periods of time. 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.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE
To measure your
heart rate, first exer-
cise for at least four
minutes. Then, stop
exercising and place
two fingers on your
wrist as shown. Take
a six-second heart-
beat count, and mul-
tiply the result by 10
to find your heart
rate. For example, if your six-second heartbeat count
is 14, your heart rate is 140 beats per minute. (A six-
second count is used because your heart rate will
drop rapidly when you stop exercising.)
WORKOUT GUIDELINES
Each workout should include the following three parts:
A warm-up, consisting of 5 to 10 minutes of stretch-
ing and light exercise. A proper warm-up increases
your body temperature, heart rate, and circulation in
preparation 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.)
WARNING: Before beginning this or any exer-
cise program, consult your physician. This is
especially important for persons over the age
of 35 or persons with pre-existing health
problems.