Exercise Your Right to Lower Cholesterol

Exercise Your Right to Lower Cholesterol

Now that you're committed to start a heart-healthy exercise program, here are a few tips to help you get started on the right foot.
Always talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program. Underlying health conditions, such as uncontrolled blood pressure, can make certain types of exercise unsafe for you. This is also true if you are on medications that affect your heart rate. Read Exercise Safety Tips for Beginners before you start.


If you are new to exercise or haven't been active in awhile, start slowly and increase your workout time and intensity as you get stronger. A good starting point is 20 minutes of aerobic activity, 3 times per week. Examples include walking, swimming and biking. The best activities to do are the ones you enjoy and will stick with. Eventually, the goal is to work up to 45-60 minutes, 5 times per week. It is also important to let your body warm up and cool down gradually during each exercise session (5-10 minutes each).


For those who have no other medical complications, strength training is safe and can provide many benefits. A good starting point for strength training is 5-10 exercises, performed 2 times per week. The Fitness Resource Center has examples of exercises and workouts that are easy to follow and require minimal equipment.


Listen to your body. Push yourself hard enough to get a good workout, but not too hard. The Talk Test is a good indication of proper intensity. If you can answer a question but not comfortably carry on a conversation at the height of your workout, you're exercising at a good intensity level.
It's never too late to start an active lifestyle. No matter how old you are, how unfit you feel, or how long you've been inactive, research shows that starting a more active lifestyle now--through consistent, moderate-intensity activity--can make you healthier and improve your quality of life. Increasing your overall activity, even in ways you wouldn't think