15
CONDITIONING GUIDELINES
The following guidelines will help you to plan your
exercise program. For detailed exercise information,
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 results is
to exercise with the proper intensity. The proper inten-
sity 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, first find your age near
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 define your “train-
ing zone.” The lower two numbers are recommended
heart rates for fat burning; the higher number is the
recommended 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 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 the lowest num-
ber in your training zone. For maximum fat burning,
adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill until your
heart rate is near the middle of your training zone.
Aerobic Exercise
If 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, 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 multi-
ply the result by 10 to find your heart rate. For exam-
ple, 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—Start each workout with 5 to 10 minutes
of stretching and light exercise. A proper warm-up
increases your body temperature, heart rate and circu-
lation in preparation for exercise.
Training Zone Exercise—After warming up, increase
the intensity of your exercise until your pulse is in your
training zone for 20 to 60 minutes. (During the first few
weeks of your exercise program, do not keep your
pulse in your training zone for longer than 20 min-
utes.)
A Cool-down—Finish each workout with 5 to 10 min-
utes of stretching to cool down. This will increase the
flexibility of your muscles and will help prevent post-
exercise problems.
EXERCISE FREQUENCY
To maintain or improve your condition, complete three
workouts each week, with at least one day of rest
between workouts. After a few months, you may com-
plete up to five workouts each week if desired. The
key to success is to make exercise a regular and
enjoyable part of your everyday life.
WARNING:
Before beginning
this or any exercise program, consult your
physician. This is especially important for
individuals over the age of 35 or individuals
with pre-existing health problems.
