14
CONDITIONING GUIDELINES
The following guidelines will help you to plan your
exercise program. RememberÑthese are general
guidelines only. 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 de-
sired 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, aerobic exercise,
and high performance athletic conditioning.
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 box containing three numbers. The three num-
bers 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 aerobic ex-
ercise; the highest number is the recommended heart
rate for high performance athletic conditioning.
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 the lowest number in your training
zone as you exercise.
Aerobic Exercise
If your goal is to strengthen your cardiovascular system,
your exercise must be Òaerobic.Ó Aerobic exercise is
activity that requires large amounts of oxygen for pro-
longed 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 middle number in your training
zone.
High Performance Athletic Conditioning
If your goal is high performance athletic conditioning,
adjust the speed and incline of the treadmill until your
heart rate is near the highest number in your training
zone. Note: During the first few weeks of your exercise
program, keep your heart rate near the low end of your
training zone as you exercise.
HOW TO MEASURE YOUR HEART RATE
To measure your
heart rate, stop
exercising and
place two fingers
on your wrist as
shown. Take a
six-second heart-
beat count, and
multiply the result
by ten to find your
heart rate. (A six-second count is used because your
heart rate drops quickly when you stop exercising.) 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
Start each workout with 5 to 10 minutes of stretching
and light exercise. A proper warm-up increases your
body temperature, heart rate, and circulation in prepa-
ration for exercise.
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
with pre-existing health problems.
