Using the FITT Principle to Get Fit
A lot of barriers can pop up when you are trying to become and stay physically active. Time, your schedule, your preferences, and physical limitations can all factor into what kind of physical activity you will do. Plus, how do you get started and how do you improve? Deciding what you will do can be overwhelming and even discouraging. How can you choose the best fitness program that will work for you?
Here’s where the FITT principle comes in. Using this approach can help you choose and customize a workout plan that meets your needs and help you reach your fitness goals.
What is the FITT principle?
The FITT principle (not to be confused with HIIT training) is a guideline that can help you get started with physical activity and then switch it up, based on your progress. Here’s what “FITT” stands for:
- F: Frequency. How many days each week will you be active?
- I: Intensity. How “hard” or how intensely will you exercise? This can vary between light, moderate, and vigorous intensity activities.
- T: Time. How much time will you spend being physically active?
- T: Type. What type (or types) of activity will you do?
Let’s take a closer look at what each of these means.
Frequency
How often you exercise can depend on a number of factors: being new to exercise, your current fitness level, how much time you have to dedicate to being active, other commitments in your life, and your own exercise goals (for example, training to run a 5K race).
If you are a beginner, a reasonable frequency is to aim to be active three days each week. Eventually, you might increase that to five or six days a week. For example, you might plan to go walking or use a stationary bike a few times a week. Because strength (resistance) training is also part of a fitness plan, the usual recommendation is to aim to do this two to three times per week, with one to two days between sessions. Read More...
