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.
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 premise being that 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.
Some Important Facts:
The two major components of physical fitness are either health-related or performance related.
If you start puffing and huffing after climbing a couple of stairs (health related) but generally you are not overweight, eat a balanced diet and live an otherwise active life, 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?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, unperfect 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 Brinks, 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- oxigen dependant 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.
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 premise being that 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.
Some Important Facts:
The two major components of physical fitness are either health-related or performance related.
If you start puffing and huffing after climbing a couple of stairs (health related) but generally you are not overweight, eat a balanced diet and live an otherwise active life, 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?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, unperfect 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 Brinks, 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- oxigen dependant 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.
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