Fitness refers to an ongoing process of acquiring, maintaining, enhancing, adapting, and evaluating one’s current physical condition and habits. This includes a person’s ability to function safely in his environment, to attain and maintain optimal performance in his chosen field, and to maintain wellness and the physical state that he is in at all times. Fitness therefore involves more than just “working out”. It also includes proper nutritional intake, appropriate moderate-to vigorous physical activity, adequate rest, and the avoidance of unhealthy lifestyle practices and behaviors.
The four components of Fitness refer to the ability to do physical activities, proper nutrition, rest, and adequate stretching. Fitness can be improved through regular exercise, which helps improve muscle tone, increases cardiovascular efficiency, and helps in the development and growth of bones, ligaments, tendons and other connective tissues. Regular exercise also promotes body posture, improves flexibility and strength, prevents disability due to inactivity, and improves self-esteem. It has also been proven that regular exercise lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, and reduces the likelihood of developing heart disease. Aside from its many health benefits, exercise has also shown to be effective in the prevention of certain types of cancer, decreases the chances of osteoporosis, and helps decrease the likelihood of stroke.
Proper nutrition is the basis of fitness. Therefore, it is essential for an individual to know the importance of eating the right kinds of foods as part of his or her lifestyle. A balanced diet that contains a balance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and other nutrients is good for fitness. A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help strengthen and tone muscles, especially those that are underdeveloped or weakened during old age. Moreover, during pregnancy and after menopause, a healthy lifestyle can help improve these conditions by ensuring the proper growth and development of muscles.
Muscles throughout the body are composed of fibers. Fiber is what makes up the threads of muscle, while the collagen fibers bind together to form a solid structure. If one part of a fiber is weak, the whole muscle is weaker. Thus, it is important for an individual to increase the strength of the fibers that make up the muscle to achieve maximum fitness results.
A healthy lifestyle does not stop with exercise. It also includes proper hygiene. Maintaining a clean and healthy environment can prevent the spread of diseases and infections, as well as promote a feeling of well being and overall healthiness. This means doing everything possible to avoid contact with unhygienic conditions. This means washing hands carefully and thoroughly following any sanitary and safety procedures that the manufacturer recommends.
Increased strength, mobility, balance and endurance are just a few of the physical fitness results achieved through regular exercise. In order for an individual to maintain these levels of fitness over a lifetime, it is important to keep up a consistent and diligent program. Starting out with a mild level of exercise and working up to more vigorous levels over time is the best way to start an individual on a fitness regimen. There are many different options for those looking to improve their health, from simple stretching exercises to strength building and flexibility training. As always, it is important to consult a physician before beginning any fitness program.
