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During the first few months of your exercise
program, keep your heart rate near the low end
of your target zone as you exercise. After a few
months, your heart rate can be increased
gradually until it is near the middle of your target
zone as you exercise.
To measure your
heart rate manually,
stop exercising but
continue moving
your legs or walking
around and place
two fingers on your wrist. Take a six-second
heartbeat count and multiply the results by 10 to
find your heart rate. For example, 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.) Adjust the intensity of your exercise until your heart rate is at the proper level.
“
W
ARM-
U
P AND
C
OOL-
D
OWN
”
Warm-up
The purpose of warming up is to prepare your body for exercise and to minimize injuries. Warm up for
two to five minutes before strength-training or aerobic exercising. Perform activities that raise your heart rate
and warm the working muscles. Activities may include brisk walking, jogging, jumping jacks, jump rope, and
running in place.
Stretching
Stretching while your muscles are warm after a proper warm-up and again after your strength or
aerobic training session is very important. Muscles stretch more easily at these times because of their elevated
temperature, which greatly reduces the risk of injury. Stretches should be held for 15 to 30 seconds. Do not
bounce.
Suggested Stretching Exercises
Lower Body Stretch
Place feet shoulder-width
apart and lean forward. Keep
this position for 30 seconds
using the body as a natural
weight to stretch the backs of
the legs.
DO NOT BOUNCE!
When the pull on the back of
the legs lessen, try a lower
position gradually.
h
Floor Stretch
While sitting on the floor, open
the legs as wide as possible.
Stretch the upper body toward
the knee on the right leg by
using your arms to pull your
chest to your thighs. Hold this
stretch 10 to 30 seconds.
DO NOT BOUNCE!
Do this stretch 10 times.
Repeat the stretch with the left
Age
Target Heart Rate Zone
(55% ~ 90% of Max.
Heart Rate)
Average Max. Heart
Rate 100%
20
110-180 beats per minute
200 beats per minute
25
107-175 beats per minute
195 beats per minute
30
105-171 beats per minute
190 beats per minute
35
102-166 beats per minute
185 beats per minute
40
99-162 beats per minute
180 beats per minute
45
97-157 beats per minute
175 beats per minute
50
94-153 beats per minute
170 beats per minute
55
91-148 beats per minute
165 beats per minute
60
88-144 beats per minute
160 beats per minute
65
85-139 beats per minute
155 beats per minute
70
83-135 beats per minute
150 beats per minute
