What Is Physical Fitness

There is a lot of information on the internet about physical fitness. We will summarize the basics and answer some of the most common questions related to fitness and health.

This article will try out best not to confuse you with unnecessary medical terms (some articles do just for fun, believe it or not). It's all about normal people living healthy lifestyles, so don't be afraid if you didn't pay attention in your Health class at school.

What exactly is Physical Fitness?

The definition:

A combination of skills, abilities, attitudes and health-related components makes up an individual's overall capacity to perform daily activities without undue fatigue and ample energy reserves for those occasions when more strenuous activity occurs, such as exercise.

How do you measure Physical Fitness?

We usually label people by different categories of fitness. The most common are: "In Shape," "Average," and "Out Of Shape."

• In Shape: People who practice some sport regularly or have a physically demanding job. They're in good shape and will have no problem reaching the stairs without having to catch their breath."
• Average: This includes people who don't exercise at all but are healthy and fit. Their body fat is low enough to feel ashamed if someone takes their picture in their bathing suit.
• Out Of Shape: People who include everything from sedentary individuals with high cholesterol levels to overweight people with obvious health problems, such as clogged arteries.

If you believe that the above classifications are too vague, here is an example of a fitness test you could give yourself. (Make sure you don't do it all at once and stop after 15 minutes.)

How much do I need to exercise?

The answer depends on how fit or out of shape you are. Before starting any physical activity program, especially if you're seriously considering going back to school for a degree in sports or becoming a professional athlete, we suggest consulting with your doctor. In the case of sedentary people who have been ignoring their health for quite some time, he might recommend starting slow by walking 10-15 minutes per day. If that's not possible, try cycling instead - most stationary bikes allow you to set the amount of time to be spent working out and automatically adjust the resistance.

Gradually, try to increase your workout by 5 minutes every week. After just a month, you'll probably see results that are noticeable even in your appearance. Don't get discouraged if you don't lose 10 pounds immediately - keep going! After all, reaching physical fitness goals involves a lot more than just exercising a few times per week.

Aerobic vs. Anaerobic exercise

Cardiovascular or Aerobic exercises make up those types of activities that train your heart and lungs (and other muscles) to work harder over more extended periods.

This is achieved through sports like running, swimming, cycling, etc... An example from my personal experience would be doing my laundry (I know, it's not very exciting).

Aerobic exercises are slower and more rhythmic (e.g., walking, running on a treadmill) than anaerobic types of activities that involve quick and explosive movements, as in weight lifting or sprinting. For example, every morning, I get up at 5 AM to go jogging with my dog (yes, the same one who eats everything he finds in my kitchen... I still love him!)

Before you start any physical activity program, make sure you're well-hydrated!

How Can Someone Get into Shape?

It depends on the person, his situation, and his resources. You can be either married or single, young or old, employed full-time, or having problems finding a job. You can have a gym membership or not; you can be fit and want to stay that way or get out of your sedentary lifestyle.

Whether you work out at home, belong to a gym, train for the Olympics, or are trying to lose weight (or all of the above), it's essential to keep in mind the following:

• Enjoy what you're doing
• If running on an elliptical doesn't do it for you anymore, try swimming instead or cycle;
• If lifting weights is boring, go running with your dog; 
• Even just taking walks around the block with your children will help build stamina and muscle tone.
• Find an exercise that you enjoy doing and can do it regularly.
• Once you've established a good exercise routine, 
• Try changing activities every once in a while.
• Mixing things up to help when staying motivated becomes difficult.
• Once you've established a good exercise routine, try changing activities every once in a while.

Set goals

Be realistic about what can be achieved within a certain timeframe. For example, a 60-year-old man who has never exercised before should not attempt to run 5K in a month. Instead, he could try walking 10 minutes a day and increase it by 5 minutes every few weeks until he reaches 30-60 minutes of walking per day.

Again;

Don't get discouraged if you're starting with just 2 or 3 miles per week - the important thing is that you'll be able to improve your workout regimen without getting injured gradually or sick.

Budget

If you belong to a gym and are unsure whether it fits your budget, ask the guy behind the desk for some free trial sessions. Most of them offer short-term memberships (around one week) that usually include discounts for longer commitments. On top of that, most health clubs also run periodic membership specials.

I want everyone to remember this simple piece of fitness advice: You can't see progress until there are results.

So, logically, improving your physical condition by walking 30 minutes per day will help you lighten up and feel better than yesterday. Still, nobody but you will be able to appreciate how much hard work went into achieving those benefits!

Physical fitness is an essential part of living a healthy lifestyle. If you are not already exercising regularly, now is the time to start! The benefits far outweigh any difficulty that might come with getting started in your new routine. We hope this blog post has given you some helpful information about physical exercise, and we encourage you to contact us if there's anything else we can help with.