H
ILL
The Life Fitness-patented
HILL
workout offers a variety of configurations for interval training. Intervals are periods of in-
tense cardiovascular exercise separated by regular periods of lower-intensity exercise. The WORKOUT PROFILE window
represents these high and low intervals as columns of illuminated LEDs, which together have the appearance of hills and
valleys. The computerized interval training workout has been scientifically demonstrated to promote greater cardiorespira-
tory improvement than steady-pace training.
The
HILL
workout goes through four phases, each marked by different intensity levels. The WORKOUT PROFILE window
displays the progress of these phases. As noted in the descriptions below, the heart rate should be measured at two
stages in the workout to gauge its effectiveness. Wear the Polar telemetry heart rate chest strap or continuously grip the
Lifepulse
TM
handles. The MESSAGE CENTER does not display a request for a heart rate measurement, as it does with
CARDIO, FAT BURN
and the
HEART RATE ZONE TRAINING
programs.
1.
Warm-up
is a phase of low, gradually rising resistance, which brings the heart rate into the lower end of the target
zone and increases respiration and blood flow to working muscles.
2.
Plateau
increases the intensity slightly and keeps it steady, to bring the heart rate to the low end of the target zone.
Check the heart rate at the end of this phase.
3.
Interval Training
is a series of increasingly steeper hills alternating with valleys or stints of recovery. The heart rate
should rise to the high end of the target zone. Check the heart rate at the end of this phase.
4.
Cool Down
is a low-intensity phase that allows the body to begin removing lactic acid and other exercise by-products
which build up in muscles and contribute to soreness.
Each column, as seen in the WORKOUT PROFILE WINDOW and the chart above, represents one interval. The overall
duration of the workout determines the length of each interval. Each workout is made up of 20 intervals, so the duration of
each interval is equal to the duration of the entire workout divided by 20.
1 to 9 minutes:
A workout with a duration of less than 10 minutes is insufficient for the
HILL
program to complete all four
phases adequately. The program therefore condenses a workout of this duration at various stages.
10 to 19 minutes:
The interval durations initially are set at 30 seconds for a 10-minute workout. For every minute over 10,
each interval increases by three seconds. A 15-minute workout consists of 20 intervals at 45 seconds each.
20 to 99 minutes:
All intervals last 60 seconds. If the user adds minutes to the pre-set duration while the workout is in
progress, the program adds hills and valleys that are identical to the first eight intervals of the Interval Training phase. This
pattern repeats until the workout is completed.
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