Posts Tagged ‘Aerobics’

How fit you are can be judged by your heart rate during exercise and rest…

Resting heart rate or bradycardia refers to the number of times the heart beats per minute, when you are at rest. Normal range is 50 to 100, most people’s hearts beat 60 to 80 times a minute. Above 100 is considered a rapid pulse, called tachycardia. resting heart rate varies from person to person and over the course of the day, due to genetics and other factors. Heart rate is faster when you get excited, anxious, or angry or if you are in pain or fever. It rises temporarily if you smoke or drink a lot of alcohol or coffee. On the other hand, resting heart rate slows during sleep and tends to be lower if you are very fit.

In general, a slower heart rate is better than a faster one as faster rate puts more pressure and stress on your heart and blood vessels. In fact, studies have shown faster resting heart rates increases risk of heart disease and death from all causes, independent of fitness levels and other cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and being overweight.

A higher heart rate is linked to poorer outcomes in both healthy people and those with heart disease. Resting heart rate may be an even better predictor of premature death than cholesterol and blood pressure. Reducing heart rate is an accepted treatment goal for people with certain heart conditions, but it may also benefit people with hypertension and, preliminary research suggests may be even healthy people.

Heart rate during aerobic exercise raises your heart rate for at least 20 minutes. This enhances aerobic capacity – that is, the ability of your cardiovascular system to deliver oxygen to the body’s cells during exercise.
How long it takes to reach your target heart rate largely depends on how conditioned you are. If you are in poor shape, your heart rate will go up quickly with exercise. If you are in good shape, it will take longer. If your heart rate is naturally low, one has to overwork to get into the standard target zone; if your heart rate is high to start with, you may get into the zone too easily.

the length of time it takes for heart rate to return to normal is a good measure of fitness. The more fit you are, the faster the recovery. Heart rate drops most sharply in the first minute after you stop exercising, it should then fall about 20 beats a minute – a drop of less than 12 beats a minute is considered abnormal. This recovery heart rate is measured as part of an exercise stress test.

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What kind of diet should be followed if the person is gaining fat on stomach?

People face problem of being overweight at an early age especially gaining weight or fat on stomach. This is a matter of concern as this is the time when health can start deteriorating if one is not careful.

Having a large tummy means that you are eating more calories than you need to. This does not mean you start dieting. Burning the fat from the stomach and achieving a toned belly are totally different goals that require different approaches.

- A healthy diet, slightly lower in calories than the body requires will help burn fat from all over the body including the flat stomach area.
- Food intake should only reduce calories a little at a time over the course of many months.
- Reducing calories too much results in a lowered metabolism and even possibly a gain in weight.
- A five meal pattern is ideal i.e. three meals and two small snacks in between. Remember not to snack between these five meals even if it is a cup of tea with a teaspoon of sugar.
- Follow the half plate rule which means that half of your plate should be filled with carbohydrates and proteins and the rest should be vegetables cooked in minimal amount of oil.
- Avoid second helpings.
- Serve food yourself and keep away serving bowls in kitchen.
- Do not cut down on pizzas, pastas or paranthas entirely. Just reduce the proportion by 20%.
- Cut down on junk fatty foods like chips, namkeens etc.
- Cut down on the proportion of sweets and deserts.
- Alcohol especially beer adds a lot of calories. Reduce your drink intake.
- Walking, jogging, running, swimming, cycling, step aerobics, rowing, rock climbing, are all fun and effective exercises.
- Abs exercises that specifically target the abs are crucial when it comes to reduce stomach fat.
- Exercise the side of the stomach as well as the front abs
- Crunches are one of the best for flattening stomach.
- become more active inside and outside the house.

Bring aerobics safely into your daily life to live healthy.

Aerobic means “with oxygen,” and it refers to activities of moderate intensity performed for an extended period of time. Aerobics are particularly helpful for weight control. Physical activity helps to control your weight by using excess calories that otherwise would be stored as fat. The number of calories you eat and use each day regulates your body weight. Everything you eat contains calories, and everything you do uses calories, including sleeping, breathing, and digesting food. Any physical activity in addition to what you normally do will use extra calories.
Following a regular aerobics program gives you a sense of commitment and control – two positive mental attitudes that help counteract stress. Aerobics also relax tense muscles, thereby relieving your body’s stress response. Aerobic exercise is any extended activity that makes you breathe hard while using the large muscle groups at a regular, even pace.

Health Benefits of Aerobics

- Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and lungs, making breathing more efficient and improving the efficiency of the heart.
- Aerobic exercise tones muscles throughout the body, which can help reduce blood pressure.
- People who get regular aerobic exercise consume more oxygen and pump more blood with each beat.
- Blood supply to the muscles is increased, as well as their ability to use oxygen.
- Heart rate and blood pressure are lower in people who get regular aerobic exercise.
- HDL cholesterol (that’s the good stuff) is increased.
- Triglycerides in the blood—a risk factor for heart disease— are decreased.
- Body fat and weight can both be reduced by getting an hour of aerobic exercise a few times a week.
- Glucose tolerance and insulin resistance improve in those who regularly exercise, reducing the risk of diabetes.
- Mitochondria inside the muscle increase in number and activity. Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells. They do all the heavy-duty work to keep you moving.

Bring aerobics safely into your daily life

- Maintain a comfortable pace.
- Increase your workout in stages to get the most benefits with the fewest risks.
- Select activities that fit your personality and have an element of fun.
- Plan a workout schedule. To gain the most health benefits it is important to exercise as regularly as possible.
- Maximize your safety and comfort.
- Challenge yourself.
- Whether your goal is to control your weight or just to feel healthier, becoming physically active is a step in the right direction.