Goals and the building blocks of a programme
A programme is like a recipe. It says what to do, how much, how often and how to make it a little harder next week. Without a recipe you cook something different every day and cannot tell what worked.
Before this course: Home Fitness Basics (course 10.4). This course assumes you know Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, the Get Active Questionnaire, the talk test, a warm-up and cool-down, and the six basic bodyweight moves. If these feel shaky, go back to course 10.4 first.
- Targets to build on (CSEP, adults 18 to 64): at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, and muscle strengthening using major muscle groups at least twice a week. CSEP says progressing toward these targets gives some health benefits.
- The CDC gives the same adult targets and says muscle strengthening should work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). It also says that doing more than 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity gives additional benefits, and that 75 vigorous minutes can replace 150 moderate minutes.
- Four building blocks of any programme (common practice, often called FITT):
| Block | Question | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | How often? | 3 sessions a week |
| Intensity | How hard? | Talk test: can talk, not sing |
| Time | How long? | 30 minutes |
| Type | What kind? | Walking, squats, push-ups |
- A good goal is specific and has a date: "Walk briskly 30 minutes, 5 days a week, by week 4", not "get fit".
- Write a goal you control (the work you do) rather than only a result (a number on a scale).
- Write the course 10.4 starting point you recorded: minutes moved, sitting hours, sleep and reps of each move.
- Choose one main goal for the next 8 weeks, for example "reach 150 minutes of aerobic activity a week and 2 strength sessions".
- Rewrite it as a weekly action: days, minutes and which moves.
- Fill in the FITT table for your aerobic activity and for your strength sessions.
- Add a date and a way to check, for example "Sunday review".
- Check: your goal names how often, how hard, how long and what type.
Videos by other creators on YouTube, for reference. They are not made by or affiliated with The Future Market.
Read the video script
[Host] "A workout is one session. A programme is a plan."
[Text on screen: 150 minutes + 2 strength days] "Canada's guideline for adults: at least one hundred fifty minutes a week of aerobic activity and strengthening twice a week."
[Text on screen: Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type] "Plan four things: how often, how hard, how long and what type."
[Text on screen: Goal with a date] "Make your goal specific and give it a date."
[Host] "Then you can tell whether your plan is working."
Write one 8-week goal and fill in the Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type table for your aerobic work and your strength work.
ClaudeStuck? Copy a ready-made prompt for Claude
Copy this, open Claude, paste it, and Claude will walk you through the lesson step by step.
For a grown-up: Claude is for adults (18+). Copy this, paste it into Claude, and use the answer to explain the lesson to your child.
I'm learning "Training Programmes: progressions and tracking" on The Future Market. Lesson 1: "Goals and the building blocks of a programme". What the lesson teaches: - Targets to build on (CSEP, adults 18 to 64): at least 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, and muscle strengthening using major muscle groups at least twice a week. CSEP says progressing toward these targets gives some health benefits. - The CDC gives the same adult targets and says muscle strengthening should work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). It also says that doing more than 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous activity gives additional benefits, and that 75 vigorous minutes can replace 150 moderate minutes. - Four building blocks of any programme (common practice, often called FITT): - Block - Question - Example - Frequency - How often? - 3 sessions a week - Intensity - How hard? - Talk test: can talk, not sing - Time - How long? - 30 minutes The exercise I'm working on: Write one 8-week goal and fill in the Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type table for your aerobic work and your strength work. I'm stuck. Please: 1. Explain the main idea in plain, simple words with one everyday example. 2. Walk me through the exercise one small step at a time. Ask me what I've done so far before giving the next step. 3. Don't just give me the final answer. Help me do it myself, and check my work when I share it. 4. This is for learning only. Remind me to check with a licensed professional before I make a real decision about my own money, health or legal situation.
I'm a parent helping my child (about 8 years old) with a lesson called "Goals and the building blocks of a programme" from the course "Training Programmes: progressions and tracking". Here's what the lesson says: A programme is like a recipe. It says what to do, how much, how often and how to make it a little harder next week. Without a recipe you cook something different every day and cannot tell what worked. Before this course: Home Fitness Basics (course 10.4). This course assumes you know Canada's 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, the Get Active Questionnaire, the talk test, a warm-up and cool-down, and the six basic bodyweight moves. If these feel shaky, go back to course 10.4 first. The activity: Write one 8-week goal and fill in the Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type table for your aerobic work and your strength work. Please explain this so an 8-year-old understands: short sentences, a fun everyday example, and no hard words. Then give me 3 simple questions I can ask my child to check they understood, and a way to do the activity together, one tiny step at a time. Keep it general and educational. This is not advice for a real situation.
Sources
- Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults 18-64: csepguidelines.ca/guidelines/adults-18-64/
- CDC, Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults: www.cdc.gov/physical-activity-basics/guidelines/adults.html
Measuring effort
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
A balanced strength session
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Progression, one step at a time
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Progressing your cardio
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Rest, recovery and easier weeks
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Write, track and review your 8-week programme
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Final project
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Quiz
How many minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week do the guidelines recommend for adults 18 to 64?
At least 150 minutes.
How often should strength work cover all major muscle groups?
At least twice a week.
What does FITT stand for?
Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type.
What is the talk test for vigorous activity?
You cannot say more than a few words without pausing for a breath.
On the CDC's 0 to 10 scale, what number is about moderate effort?
About 5 or 6.
What is the rule for progression in this course?
Change one thing at a time.
Name three ways to progress a strength move.
Any three of: add reps, add a set, use a harder version, go slower, add time.
What is double progression?
Work in a rep range such as 8 to 12; when you can do 12 good reps on every set, move to a harder version and start again at 8.
How much sleep do the guidelines recommend for adults 18 to 64?
7 to 9 hours.
How many vigorous minutes can replace 150 moderate minutes, according to the CDC?
75 minutes.
What should you do if you feel chest pain, dizziness or fainting?
Stop and seek medical help.
Final exam
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.
Certificate
This lesson is part of full access: every course and every level for one payment.