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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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