Let's Get FIT!

You may have noticed that when discussing my workout regimen, I frequently refer “FIT.” FIT is a group fitness class I take at the gym twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Since I love FIT so much, I thought I would share why with all of you :)

FIT stands for: Functional Integrated Training

According to Wikipedia, Functional Integrated Training, (or FIT) is “a classification of exercise which involves training the body for activities performed in daily life. (It) involves mainly weight bearing activities targeted at core muscles of the abdomen and lower back.”

Benefits of Functional Training:

~Muscular balance

~Joint stability

~Less chance of injury

One of the main goals of Functional Training is to make the body stronger in everyday life (i.e., lifting, picking things up, carry heavy objects, etc).

“The benefits may arise from the use of training that emphasizes the body’s natural ability to move in three anatomical planes of motion.” (sagittal- left and right, frontal-back and front, and transverse- head and tail)

In other words: no machines. When you workout using a machine, you do not need to use your core to stabilize. When you use free weights or your own body weight, etc. you use your core to stabilize and therefore engage that many more muscles. Additionally, machines rarely mimic your body's natural movements.

Equipment we frequently use in FIT class:

~free weights

~Body bars (weighted bars)

~Bosu

~Step

~Medicine Ball

~Kettlebell

~towel (to slide around on)

~resistance bands

~stability ball

Areas FIT addresses: Flexibility, core, balance, strength, and power.

Many athletes use Functional Training because it can be designed so that it is specific to the sport they are training for.**This is hard to do in a group fitness class, however, many exercises, can benefit training for a variety of sports. For example, squats build strength and power in your lower body (legs, glutes, etc.) and your lower body is needed in many sports. Furthermore, you can do single leg squats to work on balance and to engage your core.

The Lifetime class description describes FIT as an "advanced, total body functional strength training class (that challenges) your muscular endurance as well as balance and coordination by moving through all the planes of motion with multi-joint and compound exercises."

My instructor, Tiffany at Lifetime describes her FIT class as "choreographed weight lifting."

Some Examples from last week's classes:

Tuesday: Body Bars

Exercises: Back lunges, back lunges with row, side lunge w/ row, curtsy lunge w/ bicep curl, plank, side plank, 100 push ups, oblique, balance drills

Thursday: 1 dumbell of each size (5, 8, 10 lbs.)

Exercises: Forward lunges, curtsy lunges, reverse fly, back lunges, wide legged squats bicep curl, dead lift, tricep kick backs, 50 pushups, side planks, 2 pt. plank.

Obviously, FIT is good for your body, but the real reason I do it is because its fun! Okay, I may have a different interpretation of fun than most people, but I do enjoy it.

Soooo what do you think? Would you give functional training a try? Have you already tried it? Do you attend a gym that offers a class like this or would you do it on your own?