FITNESSWhat it is and why it is important

What is Fitness?

Definition 1. The state or condition of being fit

Definition 2. Good health or physical condition, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition.

Not struggling to do normal activities (Walking, climbing stairs, carrying groceries, etc…)

Fitness is NOT:

Being skinnyBeing strongBeing flexibleBeing skilled at a sport

COMPONENTS OF FITNESS

Cardiorespiratory EnduranceMuscular StrengthMuscular EnduranceBody CompositionFlexibility

Cardiorespiratory Endurance

Cardiorespiratory endurance is the ability of the body's circulatory and respiratory systems to supply fuel during sustained physical activity.

To improve your cardiorespiratory endurance, try activities that keep your heart rate elevated at a safe level for a sustained length of time.

Start slowly with an activity you enjoy, and gradually work up to a more intense pace.

Cardiorespiratory activities

Walking- Power walking, not the slow pace that you walk around the halls of Mercer!

Swimming- Laps for an extended period of time, not playing around at the pool with your friends.

Cycling- Riding for distance/time, not a casual ride around the neighborhood

Running- Running for an extended period of time or distance, not 1 or 2 laps around the track

Other Cardio activities?:

Muscular Strength

Muscular strength is the ability of the muscle to exert force during an activity.

The key to making your muscles stronger is working them against resistance, whether that be from weights or gravity.

Muscular Strength Activities

Weight TrainingBody Weight ExercisesPlyometrics

Muscular Endurance

Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscle to continue to perform without fatigue.

To improve your muscle endurance, try muscular strength activities for an extended period of time.

Body Composition

Body composition refers to the relative amount of muscle, fat, bone, and other vital parts of the body.

A person's total body weight (what you see on the bathroom scale) may not change over time.

But the bathroom scale does not assess how much of that body weight is fat and how much is lean mass (muscle, bone, tendons, and ligaments). Body composition is important to consider for health and managing your weight!

Flexibility

Flexibility is the range of motion around a joint.

Good flexibility in the joints can help prevent injuries through all stages of life.

Flexibility Activities

StretchingYoga

Other fitness terms

Repetition- the number of times you perform the motion of an exercise.

Set- how many times you perform a set number of repetitions.

BMI- Body Mass Index

Sport Related Fitness

Agility- The ability to rapidly and accurately change the direction of the whole body in space.

Balance- The ability to maintain equilibrium while stationary or moving.

Coordination- The ability to use the senses and body parts in order to perform motor tasks smoothly and accurately.

Power- The amount of force a muscle can exert. Reaction time- The ability to respond quickly to

stimuli. Speed- The amount of time it takes the body to

perform specific tasks.