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GENERAL
EXERCISE GUIDELINES
WARM-UP
A warm-up activity should be a progressive aerobic activity that utilizes the
muscles you will be using during the workout. There is no set warm-up
intensity. A typical warm-up will produce a small amount of perspiration,
but not leave you feeling fatigued. Intensity and fitness level will affect the
duration of your warm-up, but 5-10 minutes is usually recommended.
EXERCISE DURATION
A common question asked is, “how much exercise do I need?” We
recommend following the guidelines set up by the American College of
Sports Medicine (ACSM) for healthy aerobic activity.
• Exercise three to five days per week.
• Warm up for five to 10 minutes before aerobic activity.
• Maintain your exercise activity for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Gradually decrease the intensity of your workout, then stretch to
cool down during the last five to 10 minutes.
If weight loss is a major goal, participate in your aerobic activity at least
30 minutes for five days each week.
EXERCISE INTENSITY
The next question asked is, “how hard do I need to workout?” To reap the
most cardiovascular benefits from your workout, it is necessary to exercise
within a recommended intensity range. We recommend monitoring your
exercise heart rate to measure exercise intensity. Please see Page 30 for
the Target Heart Rate Chart.