Physically Fit

Many people, whether seemingly thin or overweight, have ideas as to what being physically fit means. However, many don’t realize that overall health is not just based on outside appearances. For some people, they may be shocked that their weight doesn’t tell the whole story — it’s only the beginning.

Even if you’re in a healthy weight range, you may not have good overall health. Physical fitness involves the performance of the heart, lungs, and the muscles of the body, so what happens if you smoke or drink excessively? You may not have optimal fitness.

Five Components of Becoming Physically Fit

According to experts, these five components of fitness will help an individual maintain and sustain great health. These components are:

Aerobic Fitness – This involves the ability to complete a moderate amount of exercise. This component also demonstrates heart and lung health and their ability to supply oxygen your body during the workout. It should be noted that aerobic fitness is one of the more important components of physical fitness.
Muscular Endurance – This aspect requires the individual to hold a particular position for a significant amount of time. This component also involves how many repetitions one may do.
Muscular Strength – Fitness and muscular strength go hand-in-hand because it involves exerting the maximum force of your body. This component will demonstrate the heaviest weight that one can lift.
Flexibility – Flexibility simply involves how limber or flexible your muscles are.
Body Composition – Body composition is the proportion of fat to bone and muscle in your body, not overall weight. This is further evidence that weight is only a part of being physically fit.

Achieving Optimal Physical Fitness

It is very important, yet sometimes difficult to achieve great fitness levels. There are many tips to becoming physically fit, but these seven are some of the most significant ones.

No smoking or drinking – both may negatively affect your aerobic fitness.
Try to avoid excess stress – of course, some stress is unavoidable, but try to seek out calmness during the day.
Eat breakfast – If you don’t, it could slow down your metabolism.
Eat fruits and vegetables – If you eat enough of them, there will be no room for junk food!
Avoid saboteurs – there may be well-intentioned family members trying to pry you with junk food or liquor, but try to resist temptation.
Stay positive – physical fitness is not an overnight achievement.
Exercise – this one’s a no-brainer.

Exercise Tips

Exercise is indeed an important part of being physically fit. Your first order of business is to consult your doctor. It is extremely important that he/she be consulted before the commencement of any fitness or exercise plan. Another tip is to find your exercise heart rate. Your exercise heart rate is determined upon your own maximum heart rate (decided by genetics), your current fitness level, and your ultimate fitness goals. It is helpful to exercise at the right intensity in order to maximize exercise sessions, therefore losing weight and obtaining your physical fitness goals. Wear a heart rate monitor to keep up with your intensity level.

When exercising, it is very important to wear loose-fitting clothing. Wearing tight shorts or leggings may make you uncomfortable during the workout. Also, if you choose to exercise alone, you should find the right time of day when alone time is realistic. Another great option is playing music during your workout to inspire you to keep moving (house music is good). You should also keep a daily log of your workouts, in addition to documenting your eating habits. When you feel that you are beginning to achieve your goal of overall health, reward yourself, but not with food.

By Michelle Presbury