Aerobics Done Right!

You know that eating a well-rounded diet is important for your health. But did you know you also need a well-rounded fitness program? It's true! Your get-fit program should include three essentials: aerobic activity, strength training, and flexibility. Make sure you maximize your aerobic activity time, since it's necessary for cardiovascular conditioning and weight management! Not sure how? Here are pointers from experts at the American Council on Exercise:

• Be Creative! Aerobic activities go far beyond step classes! Walking, swimming, jogging, bicycling, jumping rope, and stationary rowing are just a few of the many options. Pick several activities from among your favorites and alternate between them so you don't get bored!
• Be Sustainable! If you think the goal is to work out so hard that you can hardly stand afterwards, you're wrong! In fact, you'll actually burn less fat that way! So keep your workout pace challenging but comfortable. You should be able to carry on a conversation without getting winded!
• Be Consistent! For weight maintenance, aim for three to four 20-minute or longer sessions per week. For weight loss, bump it up to four or more sessions, starting at 20 minutes each and working your way up to 45.