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CONDITIONING GUIDELINES
The following guidelines will help you to plan your ex-
ercise program. For more detailed exercise informa-
tion, obtain a reputable book or consult your physician.
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 recommended
heart rates for fat burning and aerobic exercise.
To find the proper heart rate for you, first find your age
at the top of the chart (ages are rounded off to the
nearest ten years). Next, find the three numbers below
your age. The three numbers are your “training zone.”
The lower two numbers are recommended heart rates
for fat burning; the highest number is the recom-
mended heart rate for aerobic exercise.
Fat Burning
To burn fat effectively, you must exercise at a relatively
low intensity level for a sustained period of time. During
the first few minutes of exercise, your body uses easily
accessible
carbohydrate calories
for energy. Only after
the first few minutes does your body begin to use
stored
fat calories
for energy. If your goal is to burn fat,
adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill until your
heart rate is near one of the lower two numbers in your
training zone.
Aerobic Exercise
I
f your goal is to strengthen your cardiovascular sys-
tem, your exercise must be “aerobic.” Aerobic exercise
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 speed and incline of the treadmill until your
heart rate is near the highest number in your training
zone.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE
To measure your
heart rate, stop ex-
ercising and place
two fingers on your
wrist as shown.
Take a six-second
heartbeat count,
and multiply the re-
sult by ten to find
your heart rate. (A six-second count is used because
your heart rate drops quickly when you stop exercis-
ing.) If your heart rate is too high or too low, adjust the
speed or incline of the treadmill accordingly.
WORKOUT GUIDELINES
Each workout should include the following three impor-
tant parts:
A Warm-up
Warming up prepares the body for exercise by increas-
ing circulation, delivering more oxygen to the muscles,
and raising the body temperature. Begin each workout
with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching and light exercise to
warm up (see SUGGESTED STRETCHES on page 15).
Training Zone Exercise
After warming up, increase the intensity of your exer-
cise until your heart rate is in your training zone for 20
to 60 minutes. (During the first few weeks of your exer-
cise program, do not keep your heart rate in your train-
ing zone for longer than 20 minutes.) Breathe regularly
and deeply as you exercise—never hold your breath.
A Cool-down
Finish each workout with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching
to cool down. This will increase the flexibility of your
muscles and will help to prevent post-exercise problems.
WARNING: Before beginning
this or any exercise program, consult your
physician. This is especially important for in-
dividuals over the age of 35 or individuals
w
ith pre-existing health problems.
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