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