Balance Fitness - Schwinn Evolution Owner's Manual

Individuals who will support me in my exercise program:
Person #1_______________________
Person #2_______________________
Person #3_______________________
Individuals who can workout with me:
Person #1_______________________
Person #2_______________________
Person #3_______________________
Over the last 25 years, ever since the introduction of Dr. Kenneth Cooper's
book, Aerobics, many individuals have focused on walking, running, cycling,
swimming, and other types of aerobic activity as their only means of exercise.
Unfortunately, this has led to many of these same people neglecting other
key components of fitness; such as strength training, flexibility and body
composition. Many of us lack the strength to carry a full back of groceries, or
the flexibility to pick up our shoes without bending at the knees. In addition,
as we have aged, we have replaced muscle tissue with fat tissue.
Continued work by Dr. Cooper at the Institute of Aerobics Research, is
showing that in addition to the need to stress our cardiovascular system, that
more attention needs to be placed on building stronger muscles and increasing
joint flexibility. They are talking about the benefits of balanced fitness: regular
physical activity that includes strength training and flexibility (stretching) in
addition to aerobic conditioning.
For many years, "fitness" has been solely a measure of cardiovascular
(aerobic) endurance. And, while aerobic fitness is the cornerstone for health
and quality of life, there are two other components that are nearly as
important. When developing your home fitness program it is only
appropriate that you develop all three components in order to achieve
balanced fitness, and thus optimal health and quality of life. The three
components are:
— Muscle strength
— Cardiovascular fitness
— Flexibility

Balance Fitness

Many people considering beginning a balanced home fitness program still
think "no pain, no gain." They usually think they have to cycle or lift weights
until they are over-tired and their body aches. This idea of fitness is outdated.
What they don't realize is that, in a short time using proper guidelines, the
initial tiredness or soreness will be replaced by increased energy for work and
recreation and an increased sense of well–being.
Since 1978, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has had an
influence on the medical and scientific communities with its position
statement on "The Recommended Quantity and Quality of Exercise for
Developing and Maintaining Fitness in Healthy Adults." For the first time
since 1978 the ACSM has revised its recommendations on exercise for healthy
adults. The new paper published in 1991 expands and revises advice on
cardiovascular fitness and body composition, and now recommends that you
add resistance training. This is new information to those of us who have
only cycled, ran, swam, watched our body weight and controlled our diet to
attempt to maintain fitness.
Balanced fitness can do more to ensure a long, healthy life than just about
anything else known to the medical community today. It's never too late to
start a fitness program but ideally, you should build strong muscles, flexibility
and a strong cardiovascular system early in life and enter the later years with
your physical potential at its maximum.
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