Lesson 1.1
Lesson 1.1
Lesson Summary
Fitness concepts and Assessment helps you understand and create your workout plan
that will be more effective in reaching your goals and assess your body's capabilities
and limits. F.I.T.T stands for frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise. These four
elements will be your basis in creating or designing your fitness training.
Learning Outcomes
Discussion
F.I.T.T. Concept
Frequency
How often do you exercise per week? (Exercise sessions per week)
Aerobic activities must be performed at least three times per week to reach an adequate
level of cardiovascular fitness.
Intensity
How hard is your exercise session? (Level of intensity) To obtain the greatest
cardiovascular benefits, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that the
intensity of your training be sufficient to increase your heart rate to a range of 60% to
90% of your maximum heart rate.
220 - (minus your age) x .90 = Upper limit of your target heart rate zone 220 - (minus
your age) x .60 = Lower limit of your target heart rate zone.
Time
How long
do you exercise? (Duration of the exercise session) To achieve all the values
of cardiovascular training, you must maintain the target heart rate (60% - 90%)
for a minimum of 20 minutes. As you become more fit, you should increase your
time in the target heart rate zone to gain a higher level of fitness. However,
the intensity level may need to be reduced or lowered, in order for your body
to accommodate or handle the stress from the increase in time.
Type
What type of activity/exercise did you choose;
Aerobic (Cardio Respiratory Training) or Strength Training (Resistance
Training)
Assessments
Your training heart rate is a critical element in exercise. Taking your pulse and figuring
your heart rate during a workout is one of the primary indicators in ascertaining the
intensity level at which you and your heart is working. There are many ways to measure
exercise intensity. The Karvonen Formula is one of most effective methods used to
determine your heart rate. The Ratings of Perceived Exertion and the Talk Test
methods are subjective measurements that can be used in addition to taking a pulse.
•Prior to getting out of bed in the morning, take your pulse on your wrist (radial pulse)
or on the side of your neck (carotid pulse).
•Count the number of beats, starting with zero, for one minute. If you don’t have a stop
watch or a second hand in your bedroom, you can measure the time by watching for the
number to change on a digital alarm clock. Find your pulse and start counting when the
minute number changes the first time, stop counting when it changes again.
•To help assure accuracy, take your resting heart rate three mornings in a row and
average the 3 heart rates together.
Another element in finding your training heart rate zone is determining the intensity level
at which you should exercise. As a general rule, you should exercise at an intensity
between 50% - 85% of your heart rate reserve. Your individual level of fitness will
ultimately determine where you fall within this range. Use the following table as a guide
for determining your intensity level:
Now that we’ve determined and gathered the information needed, we can pull the
information together in the Karvonen Formula:
220 - Age = Maximum Heart Rate
Max Heart Rate - Rest. Heart Rate x Intensity + Rest.
Heart Rate = Training Heart Rate
For example, Sally is 33 yrs old, has a resting heart rate of 75 and she’s just beginning
her exercise program (her intensity level will be 50% - 60%.) Sally’s training heart rate
zone will be 131-142 beats per minute:
Periodically, take your pulse during your exercise session to gauge your intensity level.
Typically, the easiest location for taking a pulse is on the side of your neck, the carotid
pulse. Be sure not to press too hard on the carotid artery or you’ll get an inaccurate
reading. Count the number of beats, always beginning with zero, for 6 seconds (then
multiply by 10), or for 10 seconds (then multiply by 6) to get the number of times your
heart is beating per minute. If your pulse is within your training heart rate zone, you’re
right on track! If not, adjust your exercise workload until you get into your zone.
Using the Karvonen Method, Calculate your Training heart rate zone before
doing your workout plan. Follow the process of solving the training heart rate
given in our discussion.
Guide Instruction
1. Read and analyze the Fitness Concepts and Assessment discussion.
2. Calculate your Training Heart Rate Zone by following the step-by-step instructions.
(Karvonen Method)
3. Use A4 Bond paper to write your solution.
4. As evidence, record yourself computing your THR zone.
5. Submit your outputs here.