Fitness
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What is Fitness Training?

Tara Barnett
Tara Barnett

Fitness training is regular, structured activity designed to promote health in human beings. There are many different definitions of what constitutes health, but appropriate weight, strength, and endurance for one's age, build, and gender are usually among the major goals addressed by fitness training. When combined with dieting and other light activities, this kind of exercise can drastically improve overall health. General fitness training often consists of aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching. Most people approach fitness training with specific goals in mind, such as weight loss or increased strength, and therefore create training plans that work more toward these goals than others.

Many fitness training programs begin and end with stretching every day. A program that integrates fitness into the entire day rather than in a specific period of the day reserved for exercise might include stretching upon waking and before going to bed. Stretching may also be more than just a prelude to actual exercise, as is the case with certain types of yoga.

Weight lifting builds muscle strength.
Weight lifting builds muscle strength.

Strength training is commonly included in fitness programs, although it is not always specifically identified as increasing strength. While weight training directly addresses the issue of strength, tai chi improves strength in many areas without resistance. Improvements in strength often occur naturally as the result of increased activity. Even so, fitness training often aims to increase strength beyond what is required for certain activities by stressing muscles out of the context of those activities.

People often use fitness training to help them obtain a certain physique.
People often use fitness training to help them obtain a certain physique.

Aerobic training is a major part of most fitness programs because it is absolutely essential for weight loss and overall health. Many different aerobic activities may be included in fitness training, but running, biking, and swimming are all popular. This kind of fitness is often the hardest to maintain for people who have relatively inactive professions, such as working in an office. As such, gyms and fitness facilities often offer many different kinds of aerobic exercise classes.

Practicing tai chi can improve strength in many areas without resistance.
Practicing tai chi can improve strength in many areas without resistance.

People often turn to fitness programs in order to achieve a physique that conforms to a popular idea of physical beauty. While becoming fit often achieves this goal, regular exercise can also prevent certain diseases, keep a person from getting injured, and help reduce stress. There are also training regimens that can help a person recover from very specific illnesses or injuries and prevent them from happening again. Fitness training can be tailored to meet any goal, limited only by a person's ability to make time for and commit to the program.

Discussion Comments

Fa5t3r

@irontoenail - It's good to mix things up a bit, but I think the most important part of staying fit is to make sure you enjoy the workouts. There are plenty of ideas online for fitness training that can make it more interesting.

One I saw recently was an app that will simulate a short audio performance for you so that you feel like you're being chased. That way you will really be able to get yourself to run faster, rather than just going through the motions.

irontoenail

@MrsPramm - Well, cardio is good, but in order to really get fit you need to make sure that you work on flexibility and strength as well.

I know a lot of people think they can't afford it, but it really is worth having a couple of sessions with a personal trainer and then maybe meeting them every few months to review goals. They'll be able to explain different exercises you can do, like stretching and calisthenics that will make sure that you are keeping everything in balance.

Personally I think that fitness training should also include work on nutrition as well. A lot of people think they can get away with working out and then just eating junk food all day, but that makes a difference as well.

MrsPramm

I try not to worry too much about how I look, but I really do feel so much better when I exercise regularly. And not just walking or low impact exercise, I need to run or cycle or do something to get my heart rate up.

I always feel like it should drain me and make me feel tired, but it usually has the opposite effect and just makes me much more energetic for the rest of the day.

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    • Weight lifting builds muscle strength.
      By: Rido
      Weight lifting builds muscle strength.
    • People often use fitness training to help them obtain a certain physique.
      By: Creativa
      People often use fitness training to help them obtain a certain physique.
    • Practicing tai chi can improve strength in many areas without resistance.
      By: simonkr
      Practicing tai chi can improve strength in many areas without resistance.
    • Jogging is a popular fitness activity that may be part of a training routine.
      By: Maridav
      Jogging is a popular fitness activity that may be part of a training routine.
    • General fitness training often consists of aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching.
      By: taramara78
      General fitness training often consists of aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching.