How Hard Should Your Workouts Be?
Tune in to Your RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion)
There are a number of ways to determine whether you’re working out at an intensity level that’s good for you.
You can check your heart rate. You can use the “talking test” (being able to converse while exercising). Or, even easier, you can assess your exercise intensity on a scale of 1 to 10.
When you use this method—known as the rate of perceived exertion, or RPE—you evaluate your activity level continuously throughout your workout, using a scale like this one:
- 1-2: weak exertion
- 3: moderate
- 4-6: increasingly strong
- 7-9: very strong, vigorous
- 10: maximal, extremely strong
The RPE method can help ensure that you are exercising at a comfortable level. For most people, the recommended RPE range is between 3 and 5.
Assess Your Exercise Intensity.
Train Hard | Train Smart
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