Fitness is an overall state of well being and, more importantly, the capacity to do various parts of activities, jobs and sports without experiencing pain or limitation. Generally, physical fitness is achieved through proper diet, light-weight physical activity, adequate rest and adequate nutrition. For example, if you do not sleep enough, then your body will need to replenish itself with energy before it can undertake physical activity. In addition, the food you eat will have to be nutritious enough to promote good health and fitness.
The initial stages of fitness are always the hardest. Often we ignore or procrastinate about doing the things we need to do in order to reach our fitness goals. Eventually, however, we realize that it is not all about working out or dieting, but about improving the quality of life so that we can enjoy our lives to the fullest. As we make progress toward our goals, we may also notice other ways in which we can improve our fitness and reduce our dependence on others.
Cardiovascular fitness, as well as total fitness, are the sum total of all the components of physical fitness. These include muscular strength, cardiovascular endurance, and functional strength, all of which are measured by the amount of time it takes for you to finish one cycle of running or jumping, or whichever physical activity you wish to measure. It is also measured by your pulse rate, which indicates the speed at which blood is pumped through your heart. A low pulse rate indicates low levels of cardiovascular fitness. To become a fit individual, it is necessary to be physically fit; it is also important to keep your heart rate within optimal limits, as described above.
Another component of fitness is your body composition. Your body composition, also known as your percentage of total body fat, indicates how healthy you are. Body fat plays a major role in determining the health of the human body. The lower your body fat percentage, the more physically fit you may be. It is also important to maintain your body composition at a desirable level so that you can increase your physical fitness without adding extra weight.
Probably the most important component of a physically fit body is the kinetic chain, which consists of the muscles used for movement and the speed at which the individual moves. If any one of these components is compromised, then the person may not be moving at a high enough velocity to remain appropriately mobile. Thus, even if the individual remains physically fit, their overall fitness level may still be compromised.
Physical fitness is important to everyone. Indeed, it is essential for an individual to remain properly mobile if they are to lead a happy and productive life. Though there are many different elements to physical fitness, few are as important as maintaining a proper balance between the various components. This is particularly important to the elderly, who tend to lose strength throughout their lives due to a decrease in muscular size. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help an aging senior maintain their current level of physical fitness.