There are a few things that are useful to know before you start exercising.

Firstly, there are different types of fitness.

1) Functional fitness allows you to carry out everyday tasks (walking up the stairs, shopping, and housework) without getting tired.

2) Specific fitness lets you achieve a particular physical or sporting goal.

Whichever your goal, it’s worth appreciating the additional benefits of fitness. As you become more fit, you’ll experience positive psychological results. Your mood will lift, and your self-esteem will increase. If you’re fitter, you’ll usually be healthier, think more clearly, and feel more energetic. When you combine your exercise programme with a sensible eating plan, you increase those benefits.

In this section we look at the different types of fitness systems and the types of energy they use. Aerobic systems help to increase your ability to walk or run for longer. Start with an aerobic programme, and build a solid base before you move on to train anaerobically, where improved pace and speed work requires more intense effort.