You may have noticed in my food and exercise journals that I rate my exercise with a number called RPE. RPE stands for Rate Perceived Exertion, and it’s just a quick way to monitor how hard you’re working. The Mamavation team would like to see us getting up to an 8 during some of our workouts. I can’t wait to get my Smooth Fitness treadmill so I can program my interval workout!
Here’s the scale:
RPE 1-2 – Very easy, you can talk without any effort.
RPE 3 – Easy, you can almost talk without any effort
RPE 4 – Moderately easy, you can talk comfortably talk without effort
RPE 5 – Moderate, requires some effort to talk
RPE 6 – moderately hard, requires a bit of effort to talk
RPE 7 – Difficult, requires a lot of effort to talk
RPE 8 – Very difficult requires maximum effort to talk.
RPE 9-10 – Maximum effort, no talking
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This scale reminded me of the pain scale at the doctor’s office… without all the fun “facial” expressions to go along with it. So you’re supposed to be at an 8 most of the time? I am definitely underdoing it then… I’m probably a 5-6 most of the time! Sounds like you’re doing fan-tab-u-lous!
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
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Frugal Femina Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 1:11 pm
I know exactly what you’re talking about! We study that chart a lot in nursing school.
I think you’re doing a great job. Leah likes us to always work out at 5-6 and then reach an 8 at some points. We’re doing a lot of intervals.
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When I do work out (which these days is never; why do I never have motivation in January? It’s like the anti-New Year for me!), I love to do intervals. I think they appeal to my ADHD!
~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom
[Reply]