Jul 10
10
Fitness and Health: Myths and Facts
Straight From My Personal Trainer Manual: ‘Fitness vs Health: Myths and Facts’
“Health is a disease-free state of well-being that allows an individual to experience improved quality of life and independence.
“Fitness is a criterion-based measure of physical performance. A person does not have to be fit to be healthy, nor is a person guaranteed health because they are fit.”
The Myths and Facts:
Many of the misconceptions surrounding these widely used terms have to do with the idea that both seem synonymous: You are fit, therefore you are healthy. The false premise being if you don’t show any signs of illness such as pain or discomfort, you consider yourself healthy, and if you are able to perform physically, you consider yourself fit.
The Two Major Components Of Physical Fitness Are Either Health-Based or Performance Related
If you start puffing and huffing after climbing a couple of stairs (health-based), but generally you are not overweight, eat a balanced diet and live an otherwise active life, with a normal blood pressure etc, you are healthy – but not fit.
If on the other hand, you excel when it comes to performance-related abilities, such as agility, speed, coordination etc, but suffer from high levels of stress and boast about how your bad eating habits don’t affect your fitness levels, you are fit but not necessarily healthy.
Could There Be A Happy Medium To Reach Your Fitness Goals?
What is the first image that comes to mind when you think fitness? Aerobics. Images of an extremely fit, sexy and energetic instructor jumping up and down, or dancing and sweating profusely, in an effort to get you in the best shape of your life.
Fact is, without resistance training, focusing on cardio alone won’t help you build muscle. In a perfect world, you would always alternate between aerobic workouts and resistance training; in our hectic, imperfect world however; this is not always possible, so if you’re pressed for time and must choose between the two, pick resistance training. It doesn’t matter if you join a gym or use your body as your training equipment at your home; resistance training will get you fit, healthy and toned.
And you need to build muscle (or maintain it).
Will Brink, in his book *Body Building Revealed* writes: “to be truly fit we need to get out of the traditional cardio rut, and work at intensities that require energy from non-oxygen dependent pathways.” ,
So while the benefits of cardio-training are important, if a happy medium eludes you, try lifting weights. But if jogging or hiking is your thing, hey. . .
I’ll see you at the top! 
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2011 Luz Laureano
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