When it comes to exercise think of the F.I.T.T. principle; a set of rules that should be adhered to in order to benefit from any form of fitness training program.
The first element in the F.I.T.T. principle is
frequency, or how often during the week you get your body moving. At a minimum your body needs three sessions each week with 5 to 6 being
more ideal.
The second rule in the F.I.T.T. principle relates to
intensity. Intensity means how hard you work when you do move your body. Find a balance between working harder, but not so hard that you can hardly breathe or your muscles hurt for days afterwards.
The third component is
type of exercise you choose. To make your heart and lungs stronger, the movement you choose needs to be continuous and
use large muscle groups. Examples include running, walking, swimming, dancing or cycling.
The last element in the F.I.T.T principle is
time or how long you should be exercising.
Individuals with lower fitness levels should aim to move for a minimum of 20-30 minutes. This can increase to as much as 45-60 minutes as fitness levels increase. Take some time today and map out your F.I.T.T. plan for you and your family!
Find other interesting nutrition information and ideas at
Lift-Off!’s Playground - a web site brought to you by Sodexho with fun nutrition and fitness information to keep children healthy and active.
Elementary
