| Many people have their own definition of | | | | flexibility in order to survive |
| fitness. The problem is that most people | | | | something. If you can run a marathon but |
| have subconsciously picked up their | | | | can't sprint 100 yards without passing |
| definition of physical fitness from the | | | | out, what's the point? I'd like to know |
| media. In my experience, any thought or | | | | when in your life you're ever going to |
| belief brought on by the media isn't the | | | | have to run a marathon for survival. |
| one you should believe. The media tends | | | | There are many different types of |
| to give us the wrong perceptions about | | | | endurance and strength. For example, you |
| almost everything. We subconsciously | | | | have short and long-term endurance. You |
| pick up on the subtle innuendos on | | | | have explosive, reactive, maximal, and |
| fitness and they become lodged in our | | | | endurance strength. In my mind, to be |
| thought process. Things such as "if you | | | | physically fit means you have at least |
| don't have 6 pack abs, you aren't in | | | | an average development in every single |
| shape", "only those with huge muscles | | | | one of these areas. |
| are physically fit", or "big muscles are | | | | Notice how this doesn't require you to |
| what make a person strong". | | | | have your abs so defined that people's |
| Every person, whether they know it or | | | | jaws drop as you walk by? It isn't |
| not, holds a belief system dictating | | | | imperative that you're as "ripped" as |
| what they think a physically fit person | | | | possible - that's just something that |
| should look like. Most of the time this | | | | comes naturally as a result of this type |
| belief excludes people with a little | | | | of training your body. |
| more fat than would be expected from | | | | I know of people who were "fat", yet had |
| someone with amazing levels of fitness. | | | | the agility and strength to do a |
| The majority of individuals think that | | | | 1-handed handstand. There are boxers |
| the only people who are really strong | | | | today that have a good amount of fat on |
| and in shape are those with big, bulging | | | | them, but can fight through an entire |
| muscles. | | | | boxing match. |
| Although there are still some | | | | This is the same for skinny people. |
| bodybuilders with a combination of big | | | | People might look at me and think "he's |
| muscles, flexibility, and great | | | | not that big; he's probably not very |
| endurance - it's becoming a rare | | | | strong". I don't have huge muscles |
| occurrence. Most people train for one | | | | because I don't train or eat for big |
| specific goal, which is to get big | | | | muscles. I train to have fun, and in |
| muscles. They might be great in the gym, | | | | doing this type of training I have |
| but what happens when they actually have | | | | gotten a lot stronger, more flexible, |
| to use their muscles in a real-life | | | | and I impress people with some of the |
| situation? | | | | things I can do. Friends at work are |
| Physical fitness, in my mind, goes way | | | | bewildered by some of the exercises I |
| beyond the boundaries of what happens | | | | perform because I don't "look" that |
| when you're working out. It involves how | | | | strong. I could build more muscles if I |
| your body reacts to situations and how | | | | wanted to, but right now it's not a |
| effectively it can work as a whole. | | | | priority of mine. I'd rather gain the |
| My Definition Of Physical Fitness | | | | strength, and then work on building |
| When I think of total physical fitness, | | | | muscle. |
| looks don't play a huge role in it. | | | | The next time you're in the gym and feel |
| Sure, having a great body is a good sign | | | | yourself judging somebody else based on |
| that you're in shape, but there are | | | | their looks, take a time to realize that |
| plenty of people who others would | | | | you may be wrong about them. Physical |
| consider "fat" or "not big enough" who | | | | fitness is something you can't perceive |
| possess amazing abilities when it comes | | | | at first glance. Be willing to set your |
| to fitness. | | | | beliefs aside for a moment and try |
| To me, the definition of physical | | | | incorporating some new exercises into |
| fitness is having the total package. | | | | your current workout routine. Your body |
| It's the ability to be able to use your | | | | works as a whole, and you should train |
| body in any given situation. It's the | | | | it as such. Try doing this and watch |
| ability to get out of a bad situation in | | | | your current physical fitness levels |
| which you need to use a combination of | | | | soar. |
| strength, endurance, and possibly | | | | |