Nautilus ne 1000 Manuale Utente

Pagina di 24
8
GUIDELINES
NAUTILUS EXERCISE EQUIPMENT MANUAL
Edmund R. Burke, Ph.D.
> Getting the Most Out of Your Home Fitness Program
 
The three main reasons for the increased popularity of home fitness gyms and exercise are conve-
nience, convenience and convenience.  For any fitness program to be successful, it must be done on a 
regular, sustained basis.  With equipment in your home, you can roll out of bed, put on a pair of sweats, 
and start working out while the coffee is brewing.
    
For many, home workouts are easier to fit into their hectic schedules.  
No getting in the car and having to go to the health club.  No standing in line to use the stair climber.  
Then there is the comfort and safety factor.  Who wants to run outdoors during a raging blizzard.  Or, 
who wants to ride a bike on busy city streets during rush hour in the heat of summer.  It's much more 
comfortable to hop on your Nautilus fitness equipment and exercise in the comfort and security 
of your air-conditioned room.
    
Privacy and cleanliness are also important. Many feel intimidated in a gym, especially if they are 
carrying around a few extra pounds.  At home you can exercise without feeling as if you are being 
rushed or that anyone is looking at you.  No more lying down on a sweaty bench or wondering if you'll 
catch athlete's foot in the shower.
       
Flexibility of time may be the biggest advantage.  Work schedules vary for many people who work 
flex shifts or have a family that has different schedules.  Parents with children soon discover that 
exercising at home turns out to be the only viable alternative if they want to stay fit.  But parents and 
busy workers may not be the only ones who benefit from exercising at home.
> The Stanford Home Exercise Study
    
Recently, researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine, conducted a year long study of 
over 350 individuals to examine the effectiveness and compliance of a group of supervised home 
exercisers versus a group of individuals who reported for a group session at the university.  The subject 
population included middle aged men and women and included fit individuals as well as individuals who 
were overweight and smoked.
    
Individuals in both the high intensity (three 40-minute sessions per week on the treadmill at a 73 
to 88 percent of max heart rate) and low intensity group (five 30-minute sessions at 60-71 percent of 
max heart rate) reported significantly greater adherence than those in the university group based program.
       
Many at the beginning of the study thought that the university based group would have a greater 
compliance rate than the home based group, because of the camaraderie of the group and the 
instruction given by the instructors.  But the study found the opposite to be true.  The group program 
was just too inconvenient over the 12 month period for the subjects to justify the benefits.
        But the good news was that all three groups showed fitness improvements.  With the 
individuals in the low intensity group achieving similar results as the high intensity group.  Good news 
for those of you just starting out in a moderate exercise program.
    
Perhaps most importantly, research has also shown that it's never too late to start exercising . . 
.and experiencing the benefits.  Studies conducted at Tufts University, for instance, show that even 
people in their 90's can significantly increase their strength as a result of following a moderate, strength 
training program.
    
Exercise is one of life's joys.  It energizes–it gives you a sense of well-being and accomplishment 
and it keeps you healthy and fit.  There is great pleasure in being able to set goals, accept your own 
challenges and push yourself to a better life of health and fitness.
    
Once you have made the commitment to get started in a home fitness  program, here are some 
suggestions that you may want consider to help you: