Over 20 years of research has shown that aerobic exercise is one of the best things you can do for your health and well-being. Aerobic exercise improves the efficiency of the heart, lungs and blood vessels as well as the efficiency of the metabolic enzymes that regulate the conversion of stored energy in muscle cells.
Regular aerobic exercise can facilitate the following:
A physically fit person has greater ability to tolerate the physical challenges of daily life, whereas an unfit person would terminate activity because of fatigue.
While exercising, you want to work hard enough (intensity) for your heart rate to reach between 140 and 170 - approximately double your resting rate. A person who is in poor physical condition will reach the Target Heart Rate with very little effort expended because the resting rate is high (80's or 90's) and the body does not have enough oxygen, so the person gets tired very quickly. On the other hand, the person in good physical condition will have to work harder to reach the target heart rate because the resting heart rate is low (50's). Remember, the heart becomes a more efficient pump - delivering the oxygen needed with fewer beats. Therefore, it takes more effort to get the heart rate up to 170.
