The word “fitness” conjures up an image of a fit and muscular body – most people associate the word with athletes and celebrities. In truth, however, being fit is about more than vanity. Physical fitness is a condition of well-being and health and, more importantly, the capacity to do regular parts of normal activities, jobs and sports. Regular physical fitness is usually achieved through regular exercise, proper nutrition and enough rest.
In order to determine what level of physical fitness you possess, you should be aware of your age, height, weight, gender, current health status, and the type of exercise you are currently doing. Additionally, you should be aware of your goals for fitness. Goals differ for different people, but common goals include decreased body fat and increased muscle strength and flexibility. Since age is an important factor in determining your level of fitness, you should also consider how much activity you get and whether you smoke or drink alcohol. If you have any pre-existing health conditions or medical conditions, you should consult your doctor before beginning any fitness program.
For most people, having good general health and strong bones to help them maintain a reasonable level of fitness. Strong muscles also help improve flexibility and reduce the chance of injury. While exercise helps you lose weight, it is also important to take care of your joints and bones. Maintaining a healthy diet and getting regular exercise is the best way to improve your overall health.
For people who think that they do not have time or the desire to engage in regular physical activity, there are many options available to increase your fitness levels. You can hire a personal trainer or join a gym. Or you could try the benefits of home exercise programs, which allow you to do less physical work than when you are using a public fitness class. For those who want to work at their own pace but still achieve good health, you can engage in various self-directed exercise programs like yoga, dancing, Pilates, and swimming or cycling.
Cardiovascular fitness combines strength and speed, as well as the two components. The goal of cardiovascular conditioning is to increase your heart rate and improve your lung capacity. This improves your ability to burn energy and will eventually help you avoid becoming overweight or suffer from high blood pressure. Strength training also increases the heart rate and improves the function of the muscles. Flexibility is improved by strength training, and it also helps increase endurance and the resistance to injury. Combining cardiovascular and strength training allows you to build up a complete fitness program.
Anaerobic fitness, on the other hand, focuses on increasing your stamina through anaerobic endurance activities. Most athletic trainers recommend that you do plyometrics if you want to achieve good fitness levels. These activities, which include sprinting, biking, running, and walking, require a great deal of stamina and strength. Aerobic fitness aims to keep your body fit and healthy, and you improve your cardiovascular fitness by engaging in these activities. They are highly effective and help you get rid of fat.