Lifetime Fitness/Well – PEFT 101 CFW
February 19, 2012

Good flexibility is extremely important in a good exercise program. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (2003, p. 10) “flexibility is the ability to bend joints and stretch muscles through a full range of motion”. During the first week of PEFT, the class performed the Sit and Reach flexibility test. This test measures the flexibility of the lower back and the hamstrings. My stretching reached 4 inches on this test, which equates to an excellent rating. According to the American College of Sports Medicine (2003) performing regular stretching exercises such as touching the toes and holding the stretch for a minimum of 10 seconds will improve flexibility. Having good flexibility will allow for less injuries and faster recoveries from strenuous work-outs.

Grip strength measures overall body strength. This was also measured during the first week of class and my rating was superior with a score of 43 kgs. in my dominant hand. According to Professor Renaud, “a healthy adult should perform 1 set of 8-12 reps on 8-10 machines”. Those numbers can vary depending upon the reference. According to Incledon (2005) a healthy adult performing a moderate workout should do 3-4 sets of 8-10 reps on a variety of at least 5 machines or free weights. Muscular strength and endurance are important in everyday life because it not only makes you look better, but you simply feel better knowing you are improving and extending your life.

Body fat is the amount of fat in a person’s total body weight. Lean body weight is everything in your body minus the fat. According to Professor Renaud, the average body fat percentage for a woman my age is between 24-27.9%. My body fat percentage is 25%. These numbers can fluxuate slightly depending on the source. According to Coopersmith (2006) the