Course Content
Introduction
Please review this information prior to starting the course.
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Get Started Here
Our Story
Download the Training Manual
1. Current State of Health and Fitness
Learning objectives: -- Understand current statistics around physical fitness, inactivity and obesity within the US and worldwide -- Gain an understanding of how obesity and disease impact healthcare costs and overall public health -- Understand how FitLot Outdoor Fitness Parks can be part of the solution
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Current State of Health and Fitness
2. History and Benefits of Outdoor Fitness
Learning objectives: -- Understand the history of outdoor fitness and outdoor fitness parks -- Describe the health benefits of exercising outdoors -- Explain the potential impact of accessible green space and outdoor fitness parks on public health and communities
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History and Benefits of Outdoor Fitness
Personal Health Benefits
Community and Public Health Benefits
3. Group Training in Public Spaces
Learning objectives: -- Understand the benefits of exercising in groups -- Identify considerations for training in outdoor and public spaces -- Identify specific areas of concern for instructors leading classes safely in outdoor public spaces
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Group Training in Public Spaces: Intro
Considerations for Group Training in Outdoor and Public Spaces
4. Circuit Training Overview
Learning Objectives -- Understand the history behind circuit training programs -- Learn the benefits of circuit training, based on research -- Understand why circuit training is effective in a community class setting
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Circuit Training Overview
5. Review of Anatomy
Learning Objectives -- Reinforce the importance of a basic understanding of bones and muscles -- Review the basic joint actions and types of muscle contractions -- Review the anatomical planes and understand their utilization in exercise programming
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Review of Anatomy: Intro
Bones
The Spine
Muscles and Joints
FitLot Circuit Training: Foundational Movement Elements
6. Foundational Training Principles and Concepts
Learning Objectives -- Understand the basic components of physical fitness -- Explain basic principles of exercise programming -- Review select points of exercise physiology and the various energy pathways
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Components of Physical Fitness
Principles of Exercise Prescription
Summary of Energy System Pathways
7. Training Fundamentals
Learning Objectives -- Describe and demonstrate fundamental movements -- Understand the fundamental elements that are incorporated into FitLot Circuit Training classes -- Identify the 11 fixed stations of the outdoor fitness park structure and describe exercises that may be performed at each of them.
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Fundamental Movements
The FitLot Stations
8. FitKit Resistance Band Training
Learning Objectives -- Understand the FitKit Resistance Band System and how it can be incorporated into FitLot training -- Explain how the FitKit resistance bands, and other equipment utilizing anchor points, attach to the FitLot structure -- Understand existing research that supports the effectiveness of resistance band training -- Describe specific exercises that use the FitKit resistance bands
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FitKit Resistance Band System
FitKit Fundamentals
Helpful Resources for Trainers and Users
9. FitLot Circuit Training Program
Learning Objectives -- Understand FitLot Circuit Training Program methodology -- Understand how FitLot Circuit Training classes are organized and implemented -- Learn how to plan a FitLot Circuit Training class
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Planning Outdoor Fitness Park Programming
FitLot Circuit Training Class Format
Details of A FitLot Circuit Training Class
10. Coaching and Class Instruction
Learning Objectives -- Understand successful instruction techniques for teaching outdoor fitness classes -- Describe best practices for class execution regarding music, timing, vocal instruction, monitoring intensity, and class setup
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Getting Started
Class Execution
11. Considerations for Special Populations and Health Emergencies
Learning Objectives -- Understand the importance of pre-screening and health risk assessment procedures as part of the registration process -- Identify common conditions that may present special health and safety concerns in an outdoor fitness park class -- Identify special populations that may require extra attention and modifications during an outdoor fitness park class -- Describe environmental conditions that may arise when instructing outdoor fitness classes and how to handle them safely -- Identify emergency conditions and situations and explain corresponding appropriate action
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Considerations for Health Emergencies
Special Populations
Other Health Conditions
Appendices
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Appendix A
Appendix B
Appendix C
Appendix D
References
FitLot Coaches Training Course
About Lesson

Obesity and inactivity are issues that span beyond all borders and affect humanity on a global scale. With the growing trends of wearable activity trackers, mail order meal prep programs, in-home digital fitness experiences, and downloadable guided meditations, “a healthy lifestyle” seems as if it should be within reach. Despite these efforts, the objectives of decreasing risk of disease and improving overall health remain far from being met within the United States or worldwide.

What do the statistics reveal?

Worldwide:

(Source: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight)

  • In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults aged 18 years and older were overweight. Of these, over 650 million adults were considered obese.
  • In 2016, 39% of adults aged 18 years and over (39% of men and 40% of women) were overweight.
  • The worldwide prevalence of obesity nearly tripled between 1975 and 2016.
United States:

(Sources: Hales et al. 2017)

  • The prevalence of obesity was 39.8% and affected about 93.3 million US adults in 2015-2016. 
  • Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. These are some of the leading causes of preventable, premature death in the U.S.
For children and adolescents aged 2-19 years in the United States
  • The prevalence of obesity was 18.5% and affected about 13.7 million children and adolescents.
  • Obesity prevalence was 13.9% among 2- to 5-year-olds, 18.4% among 6- to 11-year-olds, and 20.6% among 12- to 19-year-olds.

What is the cost?

  • According to a report issued by the McKinsey Global Institute in 2014, “…the global cost of obesity has risen to $2 trillion annually, [which is] more than the combined costs of armed violence, war and terrorism (Bereson, 2014)
  • The estimated annual health care costs of obesity-related illness are $190.2 billion, nearly 21% of annual medical spending in the United States (Cawley, 2012).

Despite the rising costs and staggering statistics, the problem still exists. The FitLot Training System aims to provide a simple strategy to increase physical activity within communities. Our vision is for every American to live within walking distance of an outdoor fitness park where they can have a safe space to exercise and be active, while also having a community of support to keep them motivated and accountable.  

The Public Health Issue 

It has been well researched how modern life contributes to physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles. Think about how many of us spend our days hunched over a computer, or live in high rise apartments with little access to active spaces. Not surprisingly, the environment plays a huge role in the habits that are formed within communities. According to Impact:

“The built environment includes all of the physical parts of where we live and work (e.g., homes, buildings, streets, open spaces, and infrastructure). The built environment influences a person’s level of physical activity. For example, inaccessible or nonexistent sidewalks and bicycle or walking paths contribute to sedentary habits. These habits lead to poor health outcomes such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Today, approximately two thirds of Americans are overweight” (Impact, 2011). 

Another article estimates, “The average American now spends 90 percent of their life indoors. Some 40 percent of adults no longer engage in any leisure physical activity at all. Some 90 percent of healthcare costs go to treating the 132 million Americans who suffer from treatable chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure.” (Green, 2019).

Is there a solution? According to John Henderson, Executive Director of Park Rx America, 

one solution involves 2 key strategies: (Green, 2019).

  • Get people outdoors
  • Get people active

Enter FitLot! By welcoming people to get outside and use their FitLot Outdoor Fitness Park and providing a safe and effective training program, we aim to make generational change in physical activity. Our goal is to strengthen individuals and communities by supporting the creation of public outdoor fitness parks and making effective exercise training accessible to all.

Watch the video below to get a better visual of what a FitLot is and how it creates a safe community fitness space for everyone to use.

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