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GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE EXERCISE
Often, the toughest, but most important step, of any exercise program is simply getting started. By pur-
chasing the
g•force RT digital
, you have already achieved what many people are still struggling with
making the commitment to leading a more fulfi lling life by including a program of physical activity.
Congratulations on accomplishing the fi rst step towards a healthier and more satisfying future.
SETTING A GOAL AND DEFINING OBJECTIVES
An important step in a successful exercise program is to set achievable goals and objectives. Regardless
of your current physical condition, you need to establish a workable plan to reach your fi tness goals.
Begin by asking yourself a few basic questions. Are you just beginning an exercise program and wishing
to change your lifestyle from sedentary to physically active, or are your goals to enhance your current
fi tness levels? What are your primary objectives? Is your program to be geared toward losing weight,
increasing aerobic capacity, maintaining or building muscle tone, or perhaps all three?
In order to ensure that you fully receive all benefi ts associated with a sound exercise program, you
should fi rst identify any risk factors that may infl uence the design of your exercise program. Your health
care professional should be the fi rst step in identifying risk factors that may need to be addressed in es-
tablishing a program. Consider having a trained fi tness professional help you in developing an individu-
alized program that is enjoyable, easily maintained, but still challenging enough to achieve your desired
results.
Remember that your greatest benefi t will come from an increased sense of well-being that comes along
with a lifestyle that includes physical activity. People who have already made physical fi tness a part of
their daily lives, will confi rm that the benefi ts of including physical activity in your life far outweigh the
inconvenience and time spent.
Any time you spend on your exercise program will reward you with increased energy, reduced stress, a
greater ability to focus and concentrate, and improved self-confi dence. You and the people you share
your life with will reap the rewards of your new lifestyle.
FLEXIBILITY TRAINING
Achieving and maintaining an adequate range of motion should always be included in a comprehensive
exercise program. Suffi
cient fl exibility will increase your enjoyment and maximize the eff ectiveness of
exercising on the
g•force RT digital
. It will also reduce discomfort while working out and reduce the
risk of injury. Always warm-up before stretching. Warm-up should include light activity to increase both
your heart rate and body temperature. Increasing your body temperature allows you to stretch muscles
more eff ectively and safely. Attempting to stretch a cold muscle is counterproductive and can lead to an
injury that may interfere with the continuation of your fi tness program and can postpone reaching your
goals.
GUIDELINES FOR AN EFFECTIVE EXERCISE PROGRAM