15
3
H
EART
R
ATE
Z
ONE
T
RAINING
E
XERCISE
3.1
W
HY
H
EART
R
ATE
Z
ONE
T
RAINING
E
XERCISE
?
Research shows that maintaining a specific heart rate while exercising is the optimal way to
monitor the intensity of a workout and to achieve maximum results. That is the idea behind the
Life Fitness heart rate zone training approach to exercise.
Zone training identifies an exerciser's ideal heart rate range, or zone, for burning fat or
increasing cardiovascular fitness. The values within the zone depend on the workout.
NOTE: Consulting a fitness trainer is recommended for defining specific fitness goals and
designing a workout program.
The Life Fitness stairclimber features exclusive workouts designed to take full advantage of the
benefits of heart rate zone training exercise:
FAT BURN
,
CARDIO
,
HEART RATE HILL
,
HEART
RATE INTERVAL
, and
EXTREME HEART RATE.
The Time in Zone Goal option, another feature
of heart rate zone training, enhances these workouts by setting a certain duration within the target
zone as a workout goal. For detailed information about the workouts, as well as the Time In Zone
Goal option, see Section 4, titled
The Workouts
.
During one of these workouts, grasp the Lifepulse system sensors continuously, or wear the
Polar heart rate chest strap to enable the Life Fitness stairclimber’s on-board computer to moni-
tor the heart rate. The computer automatically adjusts the resistance level to maintain the target
heart rate* based on the actual heart rate. To change the target heart rate during a workout, use
the LEVEL ARROW keys or the NUMERIC keypad.
* Target Heart Rate (THR) is a percentage of the theoretical maximum. For example, a 40-year-old user's THR for the CARDIO
workout is 144. This workout targets 80 percent of the maximum, so the equation would be (220-40)*.80=144. A 20-year-old
user’s THR is 160, so the equation would be (220-20)*.80=160.