How easy is it to talk during the exercise?

• Light intensity: you can have a normal conversation or even sing during exercise ?
• Moderate intensity: you are still able to talk but would struggle with a full conversation; singing is not possible.
• Vigorous intensity: you are unable to say more than a few words.

First you need to check your Heart Rate while sitting at rest.

We recommend checking your heart rate at the wrist.

(Get a heart rate monitor or learn how to take your own heart rate.)

• Find your radial artery at the wrist, just below the base of your thumb.
• Place the tips of your index and middle fingers (not your thumb) over the artery and press lightly.
• Take a full 60 seconds (timed using a watch) to count the heartbeats.

Note: A healthy 50-year-old should have a resting heart rate somewhere between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

• Light aerobic exercise: an increase in heart rate to 30% above your resting value (multiply your resting heart rate by 1.3).
• Moderate aerobic exercise: an increase in heart rate to 60% above of your resting value (multiply by 1.6).
• Vigorous aerobic exercise: an increase in heart rate to 90% above your resting value (multiply by 1.9).

How tough is the exercise? – Light, Moderate or Vigorous?