Staying Healthy

How do I measure exercise intensity?

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Exercise guidelines recommend a certain number of hours per week, depending on whether it's moderate or vigorous intensity. So how do I measure exercise intensity?

One simple way to gauge intensity is the "talk" test. During moderate-intensity exercise, you can talk but are too winded to sing. During vigorous exercise, you should have difficulty speaking in full sentences. Many experts recommend monitoring your heart rate to reach a particular heart rate zone. While you could try to feel your own pulse periodically during a workout, it isn't practical.

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