When you work out, how do you know if you overdoing it or under doing it? Exercising at the correct intensity can help you get the most out of your physical activity. When you are doing aerobic activity, such as walking or biking, exercise intensity correlates with how hard the activity feels to you. It also reflects on how hard your heart is working.
There are basically two ways to measure intensity. First is how you feel. How hard is that physical activity feel to you while you are doing it? It’s varies from person to person. What seems like a hard run for you can feel like an easy workout to someone who’s more fit. Second is your heart rate. This give you a more objective look at how exercise intensity is measured. In general, the higher your heart rate is during a physical activity, the higher the intensity.
Here is something to take into consideration to help you judge your exercise intensity.
Light Exercise Intensity
- You have no noticeable changes in your breathing pattern.
- You don’t break a sweat.
- You can easily carry on a full conversation or even sing.
Moderate Exercise Intensity
Your breathing quickens, but you are not out of breath.- You develop a light sweat after about 10 minutes of activity.
- You can carry on a conversation, but you can’t sing.
Vigorous Exercise Intensity
- Your breathing is deep and rapid.
- You develop a sweat after a few minutes of activity.
- You can’t say more than a few words without pausing for breath.
Be careful not to frequently push yourself to hard. If you are short of breath or in pain, your exercise intensity is probably too high than your body can handle. Don’t try to overdo at first. Build up you intensity gradually.