Tuesday, September 4, 2012

What's an appropriate length for my workout?

MSU On The Move Participants!

I hope you all had relaxing weekend by enjoying the game, cooking out or even maybe traveling!  Now that you've gotten your health screening out of the way and have set some realistic goals for yourself, it's now time to ensure that your workouts are balance and that your are hitting all components of a healthy exercise regimen.

Take a look at the guidelines and recommendations via Livestrong
http://www.livestrong.com/article/444819-the-appropriate-length-of-a-workout/

This article covers suggestions for your warmup, cardiovasular routine, strength routine all the way to your cooldown.  Remember that ALL components are important!

The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library reports that a balanced exercise plan includes two types of workouts --- aerobic and strength training. While aerobic activities such as walking benefit your heart health and burn a significant amount of calories, strength routines with weights are ideal for increasing muscle mass. The length of your workout is important, because too little aerobic exercise results in minimal benefits and excessive strength training elevates your risk for serious injury. Recognize some expert guidelines for exercise duration to ensure you get the most reward from your increased activity.

Aerobic Duration

People who perform aerobic workouts benefit from more than improved heart strength, according to MayoCinic.com. Activities that make you breathe faster and move your largest body parts quickly lower your risk for cancer and stroke while improving your chance to celebrate weight loss. While the length of your workout is important, the most benefits of aerobic exercise are gained with consistency. The Department of Health and Human Services suggests performing the activity for 150 minutes weekly at a moderate pace or 75 minutes at a vigorous speed --- ideally spread throughout different days. Consider a plan appropriate for your lifestyle, although any workout should last at least 10 continuous minutes. While some athletes aim for 30 to 40 minutes daily, others prefer three 10-minute daily bike rides or brisk walks.

Strength-building Routines

Strength workouts are an essential component of an exercise regimen for people of most age groups. Weightlifting, stretching resistance tubing or even exercise without equipment --- such as pushups, crunches and pullups --- stop the deterioration of muscle mass that occurs with age but also reduce fat, strengthen your bones and lower your chance of joint injury. The benefits of strength training are achieved with a 20 to 30-minute workout scheduled three times every week. Avoid training for longer than 45 minutes, which elevates your risk for boredom, fatigue and potential injury.

Essential 10 Minutes

The Cleveland Clinic reports that you'll be more likely to escape exercise-related injuries if you add five minutes to the beginning and end of any workout for a warmup and cooldown, respectively. A warmup is essential to prepare your body for increased activity and includes low-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking or jogging slowly. Stretching is also appropriate after your muscles are warm. A cooldown allows your blood pressure to gradually normalize. Most cooldowns gradually decrease the pace or intensity of your workout, followed by another stretching session. People who stretch throughout the week are less likely to suffer stiff muscles.

Before Your Activity

Although a balanced exercise plan offers improvement to every area of your life, no method of physical activity is ideal for every health condition. Review your workout choices with doctor before getting started, especially if you have prescribed medication. Avoid any workout routine that causes pain and resist the urge to sit or lie down immediately following exercise, as you'll be more likely to suffer palpitations, dizzy spells or lightheadedness.


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