Balance Fitness; Muscular Strength - Schwinn IC Pro 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
n 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 This idea of fitness is outdated.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.
n Muscular Strength
The new guidelines have added resistance training since the ACSM
recognizes the increasing importance of maintaining strength as a health benefit as we get
older. The rationale for the addition of strength training
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