A common misconception that many people have is that fitness means a person is inactive and sickly. The truth is that physical fitness has many benefits. It helps us live longer and better and makes us feel better about ourselves. Physical fitness goes far beyond getting in shape to look attractive to others. It is an important part of our overall health and wellbeing.
Physical fitness is a condition of overall health and well being and, more importantly, the capacity to do regular tasks, jobs and other parts of physical activity. Proper nutrition, regular moderate-intensity physical activity, and adequate rest all contribute to optimal levels of fitness. Many people believe they are healthy but are not meeting the minimum standards needed for optimum health. These include: not meeting weight requirements, not getting enough hours of sleep, or not having enough hours of cardiovascular exercise per week.
There is much debate as to what the best methods for improving cardiovascular fitness are. Some experts think increased physical fitness through weight training should be the first place to start; others recommend resistance training or cardiovascular exercise. The type of exercise chosen depends on how it will help achieve your fitness goals. For example, if you are hoping to build up your muscles so you will be able to bench press a lot more weight, then cardiovascular exercises are the right choice.
Flexibility is another important element to consider when making improvements to your overall fitness level. We tend to think of flexibility as the ability to jump high or roll around the basketball court with ease, but it also encompasses the range of motion in our joints, muscles and ligaments. If you can increase your flexibility, you will increase the range of motion in your joints and that can lead to increased muscle mass. Increased muscular fitness can reduce the risk of injury and can add years to your life!
Perhaps the best way to add flexibility to your workout is through the process of muscle strengthening. Muscle strengthening is also a form of physical activity, and the key to muscle strengthening is stretching. Stretching helps to strengthen the ligaments, tendons and muscles of the body. Increased flexibility can increase the range of motion of joints and it can also increase muscular strength. All of these things can lead to better overall fitness.
Keeping fit is never easy, but it can be achieved by including a variety of different cardio and aerobic activities in your daily routine. Both cardiovascular and aerobic activity can greatly improve your general fitness levels. In fact, studies show that including a combination of both forms of physical activity has a greater positive effect on your long-term fitness than just doing one alone. When it comes to diet, you want to make sure you are including plenty of fruits, vegetables and protein in your everyday food intake. You may also want to start adding a daily dose of flexibility exercises and cardiovascular activities to your weekly routine!