10: Improving Your Fitness
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this chapter you will be able to:
- Describe the difference between Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness.
- Explain the importance of physical activity and exercise for health.
- Identify ways to increase daily physical activity.
- Apply the components of the FITT principle to exercise program design.
- Calculate Target Heart Rate Zone.
- Recognize the importance of sleep.
How much of your day do you spend awake versus asleep?
Of your awake time, how much of your day is spent being active versus inactive?
Of the time you spend being active, how much of that time is your heart rate elevated?
How much of your day do you spend strengthening your muscles or stretching?
This chapter is focused on the time of the day you spend active versus inactive, specifically focusing on your physical activity, exercise, physical fitness, and sleep.
The information in this chapter comes primarily from three key research and evidence based reports:
- The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans 2nd edition [1] . Note this first edition was published in 2008 and the 2nd edition in 2018.
- The WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour [2]
- The Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 [3]