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Frequently Asked Questions |
Should
I start out as a beginner or an intermediate?
If you have been exercising for less than 2 months you are a beginner.
If you have been exercising between one and two months you should
follow the beginner program for about a month before advancing to
the intermediate level. If you start out as a beginner and find that
the workouts are becoming too easy then you may try the intermediate
level after 8 weeks at the beginner level. Most importantly, listen
to your body and do not try to do too much too fast.
How
Often?
All of our exercise programs provide a weekly goal for frequency of
exercise. It is usually between four to five times a week. Don't forget
to make the most out of every day and try to sneak some activity in
even on the "off" days. This could be parking farther away
from the front entrance to the mall or taking the stairs instead of
the elevator at work.
How
Long?
The duration of exercise is also important considering that the longer
you workout the more calories you will burn. The goal in your 12-
week exercise program is to gradually increase the time that you exercise.
How
Hard?
Intensity is also extremely important in exercise training. Use your
target heart rate to calculate your exercise intensity goals. You
will burn more calories per minute as you increase exercise intensity.
As you get more fit you want to gradually increase your exercise intensity
but make sure that you are able to sustain that intensity. For example,
it is better to go walking for 45 minutes than to run for 5 minutes.
However, make sure that when you are walking you are keeping it at
a comfortable but challenging pace and not stopping to talk to all
of your neighbors along the way!
