In the world of sports and fitness, fitness and weight training are two concepts that are often confused. Because, in reality, a fitness program should not be designed as a weight training program. It's all about your goals. In this article, you will discover the fundamental differences between these two concepts and learn how to choose the best solution according to your expectations.
What is a fitness program?
To stay healthy for a long time, it is essential to work out regularly.
According to WHO recommendations (World Health Organization), adults over the age of 18 should do more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and two strength training sessions per week.
Unfortunately, too many people are abandoning sport, to the detriment of their well-being. When they become aware of the importance of sports activity, they generally seek to get in shape after several years of inactivity. They then call on a sports coach or follow a sports program found on the Internet.
Wanting to get back in shape can hide different motivations specific to each individual: lose weightto get back in shape, to gain flexibility, etc.
The time it takes to get back into shape depends on several factors, including fitness level and diet. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several years to get back into shape.
For a sedentary person, with a poor diet and very little physical exercise, several months will certainly be necessary before reaching the desired goal.
A training program A generic workout will consist of bodyweight exercises designed to develop strength, cardio and flexibility in muscles, ligaments and tendons. Movements such as squats, push-ups and sit-ups are often the basis of a fitness program.
Complementary activities such as walking, running, swimming or cycling also have their place.
Sample fitness program
You wish to take over a physical activity to feel better?
Here is an example of training program without equipment consisting of 4 workout sessions per week. For each session (except Tuesday), perform 3 to 6 rounds of exercises in sequence (30 seconds of work and 30 seconds of rest). Take a 90 second break between each round.
Monday - upper body
- pumps
- cladding from the front
- dips
- scissors
- side cladding
Tuesday - cardio
- Physical activity of your choice (30 to 90 minutes): running, cycling, swimming, hiking, etc.
Thursday - lower body
- squats
- chair
- ground pool survey
- slots
Saturday - cardio
- jumping jacks
- mountain climbers
- knee rise
- burpees
Remember to warm up before each training session. Also, don't neglect rest days. They are important because they allow your body and your muscles to recover properly.
How does this differ from a strength training plan?
But then, what's the difference between a fitness plan and a strength training program.
These are not opposites. In fact, strength training can be an integral part of a fitness program.
However, strength training targets more specific objectives such as muscle gain or the gain of strength. In this sense, practitioners seek to maximize thehypertrophy using a set of strategies. And so the aestheticism and the symmetry of the body above all. And even if at first glance, this may seem narcissistic, the fact remains that the cult of the body teaches us to surpass ourselves, confidence among other things.
Training for the weight room and progress in bodybuilding therefore involves using weights and implementing the principle of progressive overloadThis is in contrast to a fitness program which will only focus on health and wellness.
Of course, there is no age limit to get started. It is, for example, possible to start weight training after 50 !
