Confusion on Personal Fitness Merit Badge Requirement #7

[john88]

Ok, Ive created a physical fitness program including Warm-Up, Aerobic, Flexibility, Strength, and Cool Down. What am I supposed to do and log each day? Am I supposed to do: Warm-Up, Aerobic, Flexibility, Strength, and Cool Down every single day and log all of those activites for each day of the week? Or am I only supposed to do: Warmup and Aerobic one day and Warm up and flexibility the next? I really hope you all can help. Also, do I have to do this every single day? Or can I choose to do it 5 times a week for 12 weeks because I have camping trips and such on weekends.

[Bob White]

Who do you think would be the best person to ask that of?

[Hunt]

Obviously, Bob thinks you should ask your Merit Badge Counselor, and of course, he's right. However, because the question may be of interest to others who read this, including people leaning how to counsel this merit badge, I think a fuller response to your question is in order. I think you'll find that most comprehensive fitness plans do no contemplate that you perform the full range of exercises every day--you are supposed to tailor the plan to your own abilities and to the results of your fitness tests. You might take a look at the worksheets on www.meritbadge.com for a helpful tool in setting up your plan and in keeping records.

[Bob White]

Give a man a fish you feed him for one day. Teach him to fish and he can care for himself for a lifetime.

[acco40]

Yes, but give a youth a fish and he may just say it stinks. Teach a youth how to fish and he may say "I already know that."

 

Sorry, for the above, I'm cranky today.

 

The john88 post gives creedence to my wish to identify youth vs. adult member postings. I know we can supply a profile but many do not. An answer to this post would vary greatly depending on if posed by a youth or an adult. My advice is to always assume a youth if unknown.

[Bob White]

Actually, I do not think he should ask his counselor, I know he should. Because if he follows the answer that any of us give him it is quite possible for the counselor to want something different. So for the scout to ask us is innapropriate for the purpose of the merit badge. Anyone who might post wanting to know how to do a MB requirement shouldn't be asking us, they need to talk to their MB counselor. The counselors thoughts and opinions are the only ones that count in this case.

[packsaddle]

Welcome to the forum!

John88, just a question for clarification: Had you spoken with a merit badge counselor prior to your original post or did you start on this merit badge prior to meeting with a merit badge counselor? Just curious.(This message has been edited by packsaddle)

[Michael_K_Robinson]

Hi guys,

I'm a new member looking for similar information. I won't address whether John has met with his counselor. With this badge, that really is necessary because of the medical prework necessary. And he really shouldn't start a program without a counselor.

 

But, the pamphlet itself is vague. I'm in healthcare and work with trainers and conditioning specialists frequently. Right now, I'm putting together a planning sheet for my troop on how to plan this exercise program, and wanting to do it by the book, I consulted the pamphlet. No luck on either frequency of the program or the amount of time to be spent on each exercise.

 

I think the best exercise program really should look something like

warm up cool down and flexibility -- daily for 5 days/week

strength and aerobic -- on alternating days

 

I'm going to advise my scouts to spend a minimum of 1/2 hour on this program daily.

 

Obviously you want to change types of exercise based on ability. etc The more out of shape will want to start walking. But boys can be lazy, so you want them to challenge themselves. I tell them if they're not sweating by the time it's over, they haven't really exercised.

 

[John-in-KC]

Michael,

 

The college coach who took me through my WSI told me to measure conditioning not on sweating but on pulse.

 

220 - age = ideal max heart rate.

 

Usually, 80% of max rate is hard aerobic conditioning.

 

FWIW.

 

YIS.