

They consist of activities that make the heart and lungs work harder: think of walking, biking, running, and swimming, for example.Īerobic exercise temporarily boosts your heart rate and breathing, allowing more oxygen to reach your muscles and tuning up cardiovascular endurance. Often called cardio or endurance activities, aerobic activities are great for burning calories and paring down unwanted fat. Read on to learn more about each component of a balanced exercise program in greater depth and suggest a mix of activities and exercises to get you going.

To cool down, slow your activity and the intensity for five to 10 minutes, then finish off with stretches to help prevent stiffness. The warm-up should consist of gentle exercise, such as marching in place, to loosen up your muscles and get more oxygen-rich blood flowing to them. For example, three 10-minute walks can get you to your daily goal of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise.Įach workout should also include a simple warm-up at the beginning and a cool-down at the end. If this all sounds overwhelming, remember that workouts can be broken up into smaller segments.
MUSCLE AND FITNESS HERO WORKOUT HOW TO
A Harvard Health article How to Build an Exercise Plan A Guide to Getting Started and Developing a Balanced Plan What type of exercise should you do?
