What is fitness? Some may think it means having bulging muscles and strong body.
But fitness is the ability of the body to perform physical activity without any
difficulty. It can be explained as having the energy and strength to feel always as a
healthy person. Fitness helps to feel better and have more energy to do any work
at any time.
There are three kinds of fitness. They are aerobic fitness, muscle fitness and
flexibility.
Aerobic fitness means the ability to do any work for a long period which also
known as endurance. It helps to increase oxygen consumption in the body. Any
activity that makes heart beat faster, can improve aerobic fitness. For example;
walking, running cycling, swimming. Aerobic fitness is also known as
"cardiovascular training".
Muscle fitness means building stronger muscles. Simply it is strength. Activities like
weight lifting and push-ups help to have a good level of muscular fitness.
Flexibility is the ability to move joints and muscles well without having any
difficulty. Stretching helps to be more flexible.
Regular physical activity helps to control body weight. It reduces the risk of having
coronary heart disease. It also helps to decrease the risk for stroke, high blood
pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes. It lowers total blood cholesterol and
triglycerides and increases high-density lipoproteins (HDL) which helps to maintain
the cholesterol level of the body. It reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
which helps to have a healthy mental status.
What should we do to gain fitness? For that no need to be an athlete. There are
simple methods which anyone can begin slowly and continue it. A brisk half-hour
walk every day can help anyone to have a good level of fitness. This is not only for
certain age group. Anyone can do it.
Experts recommend to do moderate aerobic activity, like brisk walking for about ½
hour per day. Walking is very important and it helps to have fitness. It helps all
systems of our body to keep fresh and to be more effective.
Some vigorous activities, like running, for about 1¼ hours a week can help to have
more fitness. This makes to breathe faster. It helps to have a faster heartbeat. As
much as we can, we can run to achieve a good level of fitness.
You may not ready yet for this. Start right now!! First think about it. Then prepare
for the action. Then do it without limiting it to words. Finally you will achieve the
result.