Exercise FAQ

How often should I exercise?

You should try to get some type of activity into your life every day--even if it's just shopping at the grocery store or mowing the lawn. As far as the organized aerobics type, start with 3-4 times per week and work up to five if you can.

How long should I exercise?

That depends a lot on you and your fitness level. If you haven't exercised in three years, you should start off small--maybe fifteen to twenty minutes to start. Then gradually increase your duration every week until you get to about one hour at a time. Remember, gradually means you shouldn't increase more than ten percent per week.

How hard should I exercise?

That depends a lot on you. People have all different bodies and levels of natural abilities. Some people are able to run all day and bench press a Buick. Some people, like me, find it difficult to lift a book. The trick is to exercise until you are tired, but not exhausted. When doing aerobics exercise, you should be able to comfortably talk--but not sing while you are exercising. You should sweat, but not feel dizzy, lightheaded or nauseated. When doing strength training without a trainer, you should work at considerably less than your maximum level. When stretching, you should stretch to the point of resistance but not pain.

What kind of exercise should I do?

You should try and fit three kinds of exercise into your life. Aerobic exercise involves moving your major muscle groups around and raising your heart rate. This includes activities such as walking, running, biking, swimming and aerobic dance. The second type of exercise you need is strength training. This includes activities that build strength such as weight lifting, pilates and certain kinds of calisthenics. Finally, you need exercise that increases flexibility. This exercise includes yoga and stretching.

Will it hurt?

It is normal to feel very mild discomfort the day after a hard workout. If it hurts a lot and you start walking around like Frankenstein, it's a pretty safe bet that you overdid it. Remember, the keys are consistency and a very gradual progression. START SMALL! If you get injured you may have to wait weeks or even months before you can exercise again. And no matter how great a runningback you were in high school, if it's been a long time since you've exercised, you'll need to start at square one.

Will I lose weight?

You may lose weight and you may not. Every BODY is different and there are too many contributing factors to count. I CAN promise that you will feel better. You will sleep better. You will feel better about yourself. You will be healthier. If you lose weight too, hey that's an extra special bonus prize.