BEFORE
YOU
BEGIN
20
INTRODUCTION
IMPORT
ANT
PRECAUTIONS
ASSEMBL
Y
BEFORE
YOU
BEGIN
ELLIPTICAL
OPERA
TION
LIMITED
W
ARRANTY
TROUBLESHOOTING
&
MAINTENANCE
CONDITIONING
GUIDELINES
ASSEMBL
Y
CONDITIONING
GUIDELINES
HANDLEBARS
Place the palm of your hands directly on the grip pulse handlebars. Both hands must grip the bars for your heart
rate to register. It takes 5 consecutive heart beats (15-20 seconds) for your heart rate to register. When gripping
the pulse handlebars, do not grip tightly. You may experience an erratic readout if consistently holding the grip
pulse handlebars. Make sure to clean the pulse sensors to ensure proper contact can be maintained.
Check your exercise environment for sources of interference such as fluorescent lights, computers, underground fencing,
home security systems or appliances containing large motors. These items may cause erratic heart rate readouts.
You may experience an erratic readout under the following conditions:
• Pressing too hard on the sensor. Try to maintain moderate pressure while pressing the sensor.
• When you are breathing heavily during a workout.
• When your hands are constricted by wearing a ring.
• When your hands are dry or cold. Try to moisten your palms by rubbing them together to warm.
• Anyone with heavy arrhythmia.
• Anyone with arteriosclerosis or peripheral circulation disorder.
• Anyone whose skin on the measuring palm is especially thick.
HEART RATE
ALWAYS CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE BEGINNING AN ExERCISE PROGRAM.
HOW OFTEN? (Frequency of Workouts)
The American Heart Association recommends that you exercise at least 3 to 4 days per week to maintain
cardiovascular fitness. If you have other goals such as weight or fat loss, you will achieve your goal faster with
more frequent exercise. Whether it’s 3 days or 6 days, remember that your ultimate goal should be to make
exercise a lifetime habit. Many people are successful staying with a fitness program if they set aside a specific
time of day to exercise. It doesn’t matter whether it’s in the morning before breakfast, during lunch hour or while
watching the evening news. What’s more important is that it’s a time that allows you to keep a schedule, and a
time when you won’t be interrupted. To be successful with your fitness program, you have to make it a priority in
your life. So decide on a time, pull out your day planner and pencil in your exercise times for the next month!
HOW LONG? (Duration of Workouts)
For aerobic exercise benefits, it’s recommended that you exercise from between 24 and 60 minutes per session.
But start slowly and gradually increase your exercise times. If you’ve been sedentary during the past year, it may
be a good idea to keep your exercise times to as little as five minutes initially. Your body will need time to adjust
to the new activity. If your goal is weight loss, a longer exercise session at lower intensities has been found to
be most effective. A workout time of 48 minutes or more is recommended for best weight loss results.
HOW HARD? (Intensity of Workouts)
How hard you workout is also determined by your goals. If you use your machine to prepare for a 5K workout,
you will probably work out at a higher intensity than if your goal is general fitness. Regardless of your long
term goals, always begin an exercise program at low intensity. Aerobic exercise does not have to be painful to
be beneficial! There are two ways to measure your exercise intensity. The first is by monitoring your heart rate
(using the grip pulse handlebars), and the second is by evaluating your perceived exertion level (this is simpler
than it sounds!).
CONDITIONING GUIDELINES