What exactly is fitness?

What exactly is fitness?

Fitness is a broad term utilized for almost anything relating to being in motion or wellness. The medical dictionary says: Fitness is the state or condition of being physically sound and healthy, especially as the result of exercise and proper nutrition.

The Webster dictionary says; that it is the capability of the body of distributing inhaled oxygen to muscle tissue during increased physical effort.

Although fitness means different things to different people, fitness professions generally divide fitness into five categories.

Can you guess what those are?

Fitness professional says that in order to be fit you must master 5 elements and most people may have one or two, but very few have all 5. How about you?

The five categories are:

1. Cardiovascular efficiency or (effective oxygen to muscle distribution/ heart rate ratio)
2. Muscle strength
3. Muscle endurance
4. Flexibility and range of motion
5. Core strength/balance/stability

I have known athletes who could run indefinitely but could not hold more than 15 lbs over head or touch their knees, much less their toes while bending over. I have known athletes who could surpass power lifting records for their age group but were incapable of doing any exercises for more than 15 repetitions. It is not because you look thin and well defined that you are fit all around. Let’s face it, when you hike a mountain in Idaho, your heavy weight training is not as important unless you need to move a log that is blocking the path on the way up the mountain.

The best philosophy is balance, and that applies to all aspects of life, including fitness, health, and nutrition. Be sensible and make sure that you have plenty of variety as well as occasional obstacle course workouts. The key is to change your approach regularly. Get inspired by fitness magazines, books, fitness instructors, or friends, but change your program often to assure that it includes all aspects of fitness and give yourself the fit test.

The fit test will be on our blog next month. Stay tuned or contact us on our website with any questions at

www.Bewholeandfit.com