Fitness Part 1: A Helpful Definition

Figuring out which way to go with fitness can be quite confusing.  News about the latest research study is discussed in the media, then a conflicting study is reported the next day.   Many “fitness experts” giving their recommendation about what is the best way to get fit.

How do I know what is the best exercise? How do I know what is right for me?  Who do I listen to for reliable advice? 

This is a three part blog to help clear things up a bit.

Lets start with the definition of fitness:

Physical Fitness:

The ability to do activities of daily life with ease

and have energy left over for recreation and to meet emergencies. 

Really!  That’s fitness!  Fitness is about living life easier.  Fitness means having the ability to do what you need to do and want to do.  It is not about how much weight you can lift or how many miles you can run or how many steps you have taken.  Those are different ways to measure fitness in general.  The true measure of fitness is very specific to how well you can do what you want and need to do in daily life.   Your choices in fitness are best when based on YOUR life and YOUR goals.

A basic exercise principle is “you get what you train for”.  So knowing what you want out of fitness is the place to start so you can decide what type of exercise is right for you.

It make sense then, that the first questions are:

1. What do I need to be able to do?
2. What do I want to be able to do?

Start by brainstorming answers to these two questions.

More next week…

Keep Moving, Be Well

Janet

Please share these posts with anyone you know interested in losing weight with or without weight loss surgery.  Click here to learn more about the UMass Memorial Weight Center

These weekly blogs are general guidelines. These guidelines apply to patients who are cleared by a physician for the type of exercise described. Please contact your physician with any concerns or questions. Always report any symptoms associated with exercise, such as pain, irregular heartbeats, and dizziness or fainting, to your physician.