A fitness monitoring system for monitoring parameters of a subject engaged in a physical activity, comprising: a monitoring garment adapted to cover at least a portion of a subject's torso; a sensor subsystem including a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are responsive to changes in distance therebetween, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit a distance signal representative of the distance between the first and second sensors, wherein the first and second sensors are incorporated into the garment, and wherein the first and second sensors are proximate to a subject's chest region when the garment is worn by the subject; and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem and configured to receive the distance signal, wherein the processor subsystem is programmed and adapted to control the sensor subsystem and to process the distance signal, wherein the processor subsystem includes an empirical relationship for determining a respiratory parameter from the distance signal, and wherein the processor subsystem is adapted to generate and transmit a respiratory parameter signal representative of the respiratory parameter, characterized in that the sensor subsystem further includes a third sensor, a fourth sensor, a fifth sensor, a sixth sensor, a seventh sensor, and an eighth sensor; wherein the first sensor, the third sensor, the fifth sensor, the sixth sensor, the seventh sensor, and the eighth sensor are arranged on the front of subject, when the garment is worn by subject, and wherein the second sensor and the fourth sensor are arranged on back of subject, when the garment is worn by subject; wherein, when the garment is worn by subject, the first sensor is positioned proximate the base of the sternum, the second sensor is positioned proximate the same axial position on back of subject, the third sensor is positioned proximate the umbilicus of subject 100, the fourth sensor is positioned proximate the same axial position on back of subject, the fifth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the right of third sensor, the seventh sensor is positioned axially spaced to the left of third sensor, the sixth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the right of first sensor, and the eighth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the left of first sensor. a monitoring garment adapted to cover at least a portion of a subject's torso; a sensor subsystem including a first sensor and a second sensor, wherein the first and second sensors are responsive to changes in distance therebetween, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit a distance signal representative of the distance between the first and second sensors, wherein the first and second sensors are incorporated into the garment, and wherein the first and second sensors are proximate to a subject's chest region when the garment is worn by the subject; and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem and configured to receive the distance signal, wherein the processor subsystem is programmed and adapted to control the sensor subsystem and to process the distance signal, wherein the processor subsystem includes an empirical relationship for determining a respiratory parameter from the distance signal, and wherein the processor subsystem is adapted to generate and transmit a respiratory parameter signal representative of the respiratory parameter, characterized in that the sensor subsystem further includes a third sensor, a fourth sensor, a fifth sensor, a sixth sensor, a seventh sensor, and an eighth sensor; wherein the first sensor, the third sensor, the fifth sensor, the sixth sensor, the seventh sensor, and the eighth sensor are arranged on the front of subject, when the garment is worn by subject, and wherein the second sensor and the fourth sensor are arranged on back of subject, when the garment is worn by subject; wherein, when the garment is worn by subject, the first sensor is positioned proximate the base of the sternum, the second sensor is positioned proximate the same axial position on back of subject, the third sensor is positioned proximate the umbilicus of subject 100, the fourth sensor is positioned proximate the same axial position on back of subject, the fifth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the right of third sensor, the seventh sensor is positioned axially spaced to the left of third sensor, the sixth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the right of first sensor, and the eighth sensor is positioned axially spaced to the left of first sensor.