Fitness programs can be a great way to get in shape. Combining upbeat tunes and camaraderie with strength training, aerobic dance or yoga often makes for a memorable and meaningful workout. But between step aerobics, Pilates and other hot or once-hot programs, how do you know which one's right for you?

You may discover that there's no one fitness program that's perfect for everyone.

Just look at the sheer variety of fitness programs that are available at fitness facilities! So many options are available — everything from water aerobics to weight training and stationary bicycling — you’re bound to need some help with choosing the best one for you!

Fitness Program Fundamentals

You have taken the important first step on the path to physical fitness by seeking information on fitness programs. The next step is to decide that you are going to be physically fit!

The decision to carry out a physical fitness program cannot be taken lightly. It requires a lifelong commitment of time and effort. Exercise must become one of those things that you do without question, like bathing and brushing your teeth. Unless you are convinced of the benefits of fitness and the risks of unfitness, you will not succeed.

Patience is essential to any fitness program undertaking. Don’t try to do too much too soon and don’t quit before you have a chance to experience the rewards of improved fitness.

If you're under 35 and in good health, you don't need to see a doctor before beginning a fitness program. But if you are over 35 and have been inactive for some time, you need to consult your family doctor prior to indulging on a fitness program.

Physical fitness is to the human body what fine tuning is to an engine. It enables us to perform up to our potential. Fitness can be described as a condition that helps us look, feel and do our best. More specifically, it is:

Whatever fitness program you choose, it’s important to remember that fitness is an individual quality that varies from person to person. It is influenced by age, sex, heredity, personal habits, exercise and eating practices.

A fitness program is most easily understood by examining its components, or “parts.” There is widespread agreement that these four components are basic:

Cardiorespiratory Endurance - the ability to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues, and to remove wastes, over sustained periods of time.

Muscular Strength - the ability of a muscle to exert force for a brief period of time. Upper-body strength, for example, can be measured by various weight-lifting exercises.

Muscular Endurance - the ability of a muscle, or a group of muscles, to sustain repeated contractions or to continue applying force against a fixed object. Pushups are often used to test endurance of arm and shoulder muscles.

Flexibility - the ability to move joints and use muscles through their full range of motion. The sit-and- reach test is a good measure of flexibility of the lower back and backs of the upper legs.

Body composition is often taken into consideration when choosing the best fitness program for you. It refers to the makeup of the body in terms of lean mass (muscle, bone, vital tissue and organs) and fat mass. An optimal ratio of fat to lean mass is an indication of fitness, and the right types of exercises will help you decrease body fat and increase or maintain muscle mass.

In summary, how often, how long and how hard you exercise, and what kinds of exercises you do should be determined by what you are trying to accomplish. Your fitness program should include something from each of the four basic fitness components described previously. Each workout should begin with a warmup and end with a cooldown. As a general rule, space your workouts throughout the week and avoid consecutive days of hard exercise.

Finally, exercise clothing should be loose-fitting to permit freedom of movement, and should make the wearer feel comfortable and self-assured.

Fitness Programs

Save on The Tony Little Gazelle
Bun & Thigh Roller

Information on this site is provided for informational purposes and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or dietitian. Information and statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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