This is probably one of the simplest questions we can ask ourselves, and yet also one which will get the most variety of answers
There are so many ways we can define “fit” that we would end up agreeing and disagreeing with each other all the time, and I hope to be able to put the debate to rest here and now – and then expect to have what I say shot to pieces anyway
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) “fit” (in the exercising sense of the word) is defined as “In good health, especially because of regular physical exercise”
So there it is – simple. But is it?
Of course not
Good health means so many different things to different people. An athlete and you will attach a completely different level of meaning to this. Your good health might conceivably seem like a terrible illness to him or her (comparatively speaking)
As for regular physical exercise there is no statement as to how often, how long or how hard this regular physical exercise should last. It makes no distinction between formal (planned) exercise and informal (unplanned) exercise that many of us take for granted, and might not even classify as exercise (ironing, mowing the lawn, washing the car)
There is a different way to think about this and that is to ditch any formal definitions and think about what we each, individually, get up to in our own lives. Some of you will be very active and want to remain so. Others of you may not do a great deal of any form of exercise. You will no doubt have your own perceptions about your own abilities and requirements, and base your judgement as to how “fit” you judge yourselves based on that.
If you are able to get through the day, doing all those activities you need to without any discomfort or undue physical stress, you are likely to be fit at the level of “Daily Living”. If you do more above and beyond this, be it football or dance classes, you are putting your body through tougher physical challenges, and so be fitter than the previous person. But are you? All you have is a different level of “Daily Living” and are comfortable at that level, so you could be considered as fit as the other.
OK, so we probably all agree that as we do more in the day our fitness levels will go up so as to allow us to keep working without physical stress, but is there more to it?
There will be more to it yes, but as we are all very different people, we all have different levels of good health (for where we are).
Ultimately, if we are able, at the drop of a hat, to do anything we are called upon to do in our daily lives, without discomfort in any way, then we can consider ourselves fit. For some people this could be a simple task like walking up stairs, for others completing a swim training session before breakfast.
Wherever most of us are on that spectrum, the key thing is to keep progressing, never giving up, as this will give us a longer, healthier, and more enjoyable life.
You look after your car with regular checks and top ups etc, not letting it run out of oil and so on. Make sure you do the same with your body. After all, you can’t replace that like you can a car.
So, why not book an appointment right away and we can look to progress your fitness and wellbeing to new levels, together?