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12
CONDITIONING GUIDELINES
The following general guidelines will help you to plan
your exercise program. Remember that proper nutri-
tion and adequate rest are essential for successful
results.
EXERCISE INTENSITY
Whether your goal is to burn fat or 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 burn-
ing, and cardiovascular (aerobic) exercise.
To find the proper heart rate for you, first find your age
near the bottom of the chart (ages are rounded off to
the nearest ten years). Next, look above your age and
find the three numbers in light grey boxes. The three
numbers are your Òtraining zone.Ó The lowest number
is the recommended heart rate for fat burning; the
middle number is the recommended heart rate for
maximum fat burning; the highest number is the rec-
ommended heart rate for aerobic exercise.
Fat Burning
To burn fat effectively, you must exercise at a relative-
ly 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 your pace or the resis-
tance until your heart rate is near the lowest number
in your training zone as you exercise.
For maximum fat burning, adjust your pace or the
resistance until your heart rate is near the middle
number 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 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 your pace or the resistance until your heart rate
is near the highest number in your training zone.
Strength Training
To strengthen and tone your muscles, you must exer-
cise your muscles at a moderate to high percentage of
their capacity. To do this, adjust the resistance to a
high level.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE
To measure your heart rate, first exercise for at least
four minutes. Then, stop exercising and place two fin-
gers on your
wrist as
shown. Take a
six-second
heartbeat
count, and
multiply the
result by 10 to
find your heart
rate. For
example, if
your six-sec-
ond 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.)
Adjust the intensity of your exercise until your heart
rate is at the desired level. You can adjust the intensity
of your exercise by adjusting the resistance or by
changing your pace.
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.