Able Weight Loss Center

Nutritional management goes hand by hand with a realistic exercise program. The Doctor will prescribe exercise based on your personal capacity for physical activity. Daily exercise in small yet vigorous amount is far more effective and healthful than sporadic heavy exercise. At times, the Doctor may prescribe medication as part of your treatment if indicated. Not all patients are eligible for medication in their treatment. Only the physician is qualified and legally able to prescribe drub therapy as part of your treatment.

Extensive medical research has determined that certain medications can be very effective when combined with a sound treatment program, but only when supervised and strictly controlled by specially trained physicians.

PROGRAM SUPERVISION

800 or less calories per day program requires Physician (M.D. or D.O. ) supervision.
800-1200 calories per day program requires supervision from a medically-trained weight management professional.
1200 or more calories per day program does not require medical supervision.

ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS
If any of the following applies to you,
you are NOT appropriate for ANY Medifast Program.

Type I Diabetes Mellitus or insulin dependent
Myocardial infarction (MI) within previous 3 months
Recent or recurrent CVAs and/or TIAs
Unstable angina
Severe liver disease
Severe kidney disease
Active peptic ulcer disease
Active cancers
Active thrombophlebitis (DVT/PE within 3 months)
Pregnancy or lactation
Bulimia Nervosa
Severe psychiatric disturbance (history of major depression & suicide attempts)
Chronic use of corticosteroid therapy. 20mg/day
Chronic use of illicit drugs, addiction, alcoholism or substance abuse
Current use of lithium
Gall Bladder disease
Weight Control and Longevity Center not responsible for abuse or misuse of these products and/or failure to follow the prescribed protocols.

Finding Your Target Heart Rate
Heart rate is widely accepted as a good method for measuring intensity during running, swimming, cycling and other aerobic activities. Exercise that doesn't raise your heart rate to a certain level and keep it there for 20 minutes won't contribute significantly to cardiovascular fitness.

Target Heart Rate

The heart rate you should maintain is called your Target Heart Rate. There are several ways of arriving at this figure. One of the simplest is:
Target Heart Rate = (220 - age) x 50% (lower limit)
-and-
Target Heart Rate = (220 - age) x 75% (upper limit)

(220 - age) is actually an estimate of your maximum heart rate. In other words, your target heart rate during exercise should be about 50-75% of your maximum heart rate.

Calculate both the lower and upper limit to find your target heart rate zone. Your target heart rate falls within this zone. When your heart rate reaches a value within this zone during exercise, it means you have achieved a level of activity that contributes to your cardiovascular fitness.

Note: Your heart rate during exercise should not exceed the upper limit of this zone!

If you're between the ages of 20 to 70 years old and you'd rather not do the math, click here to use our handy target heart rate calculator.

Individualized Target Heart Rate

Some methods for figuring the target rate take individual differences into consideration. Here is one of them.

1. Subtract your age from 220 to find Maximum Heart Rate.
2. Subtract resting heart rate (see below) from Maximum Heart Rate to determine Heart Rate Reserve.
3. Take 70% of Heart Rate Reserve to determine Heart Rate Increase.
4. Add Heart Rate Increase to Resting Heart Rate to find Target Heart Rate.

Resting Heart Rate

Find out your resting heart rate by taking your pulse after sitting quietly for five minutes. Count your pulse for 10 seconds, and multiply by six to get the per-minute rate.

Exercise Heart Rate

When checking heart rate during a workout, take your pulse within five seconds after interrupting exercise because it starts to go down once you stop moving. Count your pulse for 10 seconds, and multiply by six to get the per-minute rate.
Return to Target Heart Rate Calculator

The text presented on these pages is provided for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It may not represent your true individual medical situation, and does not take into account any possible arrhythmias or irregularities in your heart rate that may affect your heart rate per minute. It also cannot compensate for any inaccuracies in the pulse count you provide. Be sure to consult your physician before undertaking any new exercise regimen. Do not use this information to achieve a target heart rate that brings you discomfort or puts you at risk in any way. If you experience chest pains, shortness of breath, or any other kind of significant discomfort during exercise, stop exercising immediately and call your doctor. Consult your personal physician if you have any questions or concerns about exercise, fitness, or diet.