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Health
 Tips
Tracking Your Fitness Levels
"Health is not
a condition of matter, but of Mind." -Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health
Mind Your Belt
Buckle; Skip the Scale:
In this high-tech world we live in, we sometimes forget the simple ways to
do things. If you’ve already started a workout program and can’t seem to see
results, check the way your pants fit. Are they slightly loose around the
waist, not as tight as they were? Sometimes clothes can show you results
that the scale cannot. Weight variations are subtle. Strength-training
exercises can sometimes produce a temporary weight gain in the beginning due
to muscles retaining more fluid. After a week or so, it quickly readjusts
and the excess fluid disappears.
Skip the Math; Get
Rid of the Finger; Invest in a Heart Rate Monitor:
To get the most out of your workouts, you need to reach 80% of your heart
rate training zone. There are three ways to measure your heart rate. Stop
your exercise, hold your index finger to the pulse in your neck and count
the beats per minute. The second way is to measure your pulse rate. The
third is to use a high tech device called a Heart Rate Monitor. It consists
of a chest strap and a wristwatch type band that automatically measures your
beats. You can pre-set it to beep when you reach your desired training zone.
If you don’t want to bother with mathematical equations to figure your
proper heart rate training zone, buy a Heart Rate Monitor. It may set you
back upwards of $100 but it will guarantee to measure your heart rate. Most
Sports Specialty stores have them. Bicycle shops usually carry them and they
can be ordered through fitness catalogues and magazines.
‘Take it to the Next
Level’ Circuit Training:
Incorporate circuit training into your fitness routine for a surefire way to
reach the next level of endurance, strength and weight loss. Instead of
spending 30-60 minutes doing aerobics and another 30-60 minutes doing
strength training, combine the two for a more robust workout. Take the
boredom out of your routine by spending five minutes on aerobics (standard
machines such as treadmill, stair stepper, stair climber, bicycle,
elliptical trainer, cross trainer) then alternate with five minutes of
strength training (free weights, weight machines, rubber bands.)
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