Fitness! What does it mean?
There is no distinct definition for fitness.
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘Fitness’ as;
- The quality or state of being fit,
- And ‘Fit’ as, ‘adapted to the environment so as to be capable of surviving.
Fitness can have myriad meanings or ambiguously be understood by different individuals thus not necessarily an ultra-marathoner or one that performs one pull-up or one hundred.
For me, fitness is first and foremost about feeling good and being able to move without pain, says the certified strength and conditioning specialist Grayson Wickham, a New York City–based physical therapist and the founder of Movement Vault, a mobility and movement company.
He explains that true fitness is about being healthy and being in sufficient shape that you desire and to do the activities you plan to do and live the lifestyle you want to live.
Michael Jonesco, DO, an assistant professor of internal and sports medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, agrees.
Since medical school, I’ve learned that physical fitness is simply defined as your body’s ability to perform tasks. Nowadays, there are more tools available than ever for fitness enthusiasts to track, measure, and follow.
For example, you’ve got body mass index (BMI), resting heart rate, body fat percentage, VO2 max, 5K or marathon personal records (PRs), 100-meter-dash times, and bench-press maxes, he says.
These are all objective measures we use to gauge progress (or measure ourselves against the guy or girl on the metaphorical squat rack or treadmill next to us). He added
But physical fitness should not solely be measured with any one of these or other tests or evaluations, he adds. It’s much more complex. You wouldn’t, for instance, use one factor (such as blood pressure) to measure someone’s overall health, Dr. Jonesco says. Blood pressure is a useful test to monitor for cardiovascular disease, but it doesn’t indicate whether or not someone has cancer or dementia.
Physical fitness should be considered a balance of many of the aforementioned measures, but also many more intangible measures, too, your outlook on not just your body, but your attitude toward your own health and wellness. Jonesco explained
Traditionally, experts have defined five key components of physical fitness:
- Body composition (the relative proportion of fat and fat-free tissue in the body)
- Cardiorespiratory or aerobic fitness.
- Flexibility.
- Muscular strength.
- Muscular endurance.
-According to the American College of Sports Medicine.
But you can’t discount the impact of nutrition, sleep, and mental and emotional health on fitness either, says Jeffrey E. Oken, MD, deputy chief of staff at the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois.
This means your physical looks don’t always determine your fitness.
Some individuals obsess on their physical appearance and numbers but are motivated by low self-esteem and criticize the flaws of their physical appearance. Some sacrifice rest and sleep in order to achieve further success but, in turn, drive their body into illness or burnout,” “Fitness is truly a spectrum of physical well-being that must balance our physical and emotional motivations. Jonesco explains
One gets the most benefit when all of the components of fitness are well balanced, both physically and mentally.
Benefits of Fitness to Human Being
- Energy boost.
- Good mood.
- Good Sleep.
- Healthy Immune System
Because fitness is the state of being physically able to live the happy, fulfilling life you want — the first and most obvious payoff of achieving fitness is high quality of life.
Benefits of Fitness, Backed by Research
Research has proven that fitness aid in achieving;
- Increased energy levels
- Better work-life balance, according to a study in the November/December issue of the journal Human Resource Management.
- Stronger immunity
- Sounder sleep.
Don’t underestimate fitness or overlook the practices that lead to being fit, be fit, now and always!
