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PLANNING AN EXERCISE PROGRAM
When and how much exercise to do,
Probably the most important part of exercising, especially if exercise is new for you, is commitment,
commitment, commitmentl Maintaining a physically fit body does not require hours and hours of your
time. For an average non-exercising person, a safe and generally accepted schedule is to exercise
consistently for 20 to 30 minutes, three times per week to maintain cardiovascular fitness.
Keeping a written record will help you to see your progress and may serve to help you keep your
commitment. It is extremely important to start out slow and not to overdo, especially for the first
month or two. Two reasonable times to workout, if it fits your schedule, is in the morning before
breakfast, or early evening before your evening meal.
Research shows that to increase your fitness level you should workout at a level of 70 to 80 percent
of your maximum heart rate. This is the target zone for best results. Exceeding your target zone will
not increase your fitness level, and could be very dangerous.
MONITORING YOUR HEART RATE
Before beginning your workout, Check your normal resting heart rate. Place your fingers lightly
against your neck, or against your wrist over the main artery. After feeling your pulse, count the
number of beats for 10 seconds. Multiply the number of beats by six to determine your pulse rate
per minute.
Keep a log of your heart rate at rest; after warming up, during your workout, and two minutes during
your cool down, then 10 minutes after your cool down.
We recommend taking your heart rate at these times to accurately track your progress as it relates
to better physical fitness.
Your maximum heart rate and aerobic capacity naturally decreases as you age. In general, to deter-
mine your maximum heart rate, subtract your age from 220, This may vary from one person to an-
other, but use this number to find your approximate effective target zone,
(MHR)= Maximum Heart Rate
(THR)= Target Heart Rate
220 - age = maximum heart rate (MHR). MHR x ,70 = 70% of your heart rate.
MHR x .85 = 85% of your maximum heart rate.
For example, if you are 30 years old, your calculations will be as follows:
220 - 30 = 190
190 x .70 = 133 (Low end or 70% of THR)
190 x .85 = 161 (High end or 85% of THR)
See Table No. 1 for additional calculations,
If exercise is new to you, don't push yourself too fast. Be conscious of your body and what it is
telling you. If pain develops anywhere in your body, slow down. Heart rhythm disturbances may
occur if you stop abruptly, so always remember to cool down.
You are an individual and your body is unique. All of the information in this manual is for an average
person with average physical fitness. Use these instructions as a guide.
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