Your Workout Primer: A Resource Guide to Exercise and Physical Fitness

In today’s fast paced world, the need for exercise and fitness is greater than ever. In generations past people did more manual laborious activities, which helped keep everyone in better shape. Today, with video games, easily accessible entertainment and with automation of more functions, people are less active and not getting needed physical exercise.

However, in order to maintain a proper level of fitness and health, people still need to complete some type of fitness regimen. The type of program individuals choose is determined by a number of factors such as age, health, time, location and the purpose of the exercise selections. To help get a better understanding of exercise and physical fitness, and to help select a workout program that is appropriate for you, we have assembled a wide variety of resources:

Children

• Fitness and Exercise for Young Children – resources and activities to help young school aged children become fit.
• Fitness for Children – information on how to get children up to age 5 interested in fitness with fun activities.
• Exercise for Children – suggestions on how to get children involved with exercise.
• Get Your Family Moving – activities and ideas on how to get the family involved in exercise programs.
• Teen Fitness – article showing that fitness for teens not only benefits them physically, but also mentally.

Adults

• Physical Activity – article and information on how physical activity can benefit the health of all people.
• Girls Fitness – wide range of information and activities aimed at girls and women.
• Exercise and Physical Fitness – general information on how exercise and physical fitness can benefit people’s health.
• Physical Activity and Fitness – article outlining information and trends in fitness over time.
• Physical Activity for Adults – guidelines for adults to begin a physical fitness routine.

Senior Citizens

• Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults – resources on exercise for senior citizens.
• Stay Well Exercise – program for senior citizens to improve health and fitness.
• Senior Citizen and Older Adult Fitness – tips on how to maintain fitness through exercise.
• Walking as a Way of Life – information on walking as a way to keep fit.
• Senior Fitness – White House information on President Bush’s initiative for senior health.

Sports Fitness

• Sports Fitness – information on fitness programs for sports activities.
• Information on Sports Fitness – government information on the fitness value of sports.
• Physical Fitness and Sports – federal program information and publications of fitness and sports.
• President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition – new White House initiative on sports and fitness.
• Sports and Exercise – statistical look at 2008 regarding sports and exercise programs.

Nutrition

• Fitness and Sports Nutrition – variety of resources on the relationship between nutrition and sports.
• Eating for Exercise and Sport – resources on proper nutrition for exercise and sports.
• Sports and Exercise Nutrition – information on how sports and exercise benefits from nutrition.
• Fast Facts on Sports Nutrition – general information on nutrition and sports performance.

Stretching

• Stretching Exercises – sample exercises that can be done to help stretch and loosen muscles.
• Girls Stretching Exercises – exercises that can be done for girls and women prior to physical activity.
• Stretching to Prevent Injury – article on the importance of stretching before and after physical activity.
• Why Warm Up, Cool Down and Stretch? – a look at the need for proper stretching prior to exercise or physical activity.

Weight Loss

• Exercise and Weight Loss – information on how exercise can play an important role in losing weight.
• Dietary Weight Loss and Exercise – article on how exercise and a proper diet can help obese individuals.
• Weight Loss and Fitness – FTC consumer information on how to find programs for weight loss and fitness.
• Weight Management and Physical Activity – resources on losing weight through exercise and activity.

Building Muscle

• Exercises for Seniors – information on how to maintain muscle for senior citizens.
• Types of Exercise – listing of various kinds of exercise and benefits of the exercise to the body.
• Home Exercises – examples of exercises for fitness that can be completed at home.
• Exercise for Bone Health – sample exercises to improve bone health.