5 Reasons Why Fitness Is Not All About Going to The Gym

Introduction

What is the definition of being fit? Getting an exact definition can be tricky. If you were to look into the dictionary meaning, fitness stands for the state or quality of being healthy. If you look into the world fit, it means to be sound physically and mentally. But if all these terms are still unclear, you’re not alone. Let’s look at four ways why fitness is more than just hitting the gym.

1. Peak Performance May Not Indicate Long Term Health

According to exercise experts, fitness doesn’t mean you need to be running ultramarathons or perform 100 push-ups. Fitness means different things to different people. One expert states that fitness is all about feeling good and moving fluidly without aches or pains. Another expert believes that physical fitness is merely defined as your body’s capacity of performing specific tasks. Today, you have more tools than ever, including digital apps and variables to track, measure and follow your fitness.

2. Tests and Measures Maybe Inconclusive

However, physical fitness is not something that must be solely measured by tests and evaluations and devices; it’s far more complicated. For example, it is not wise to only use one factor, such as measuring blood pressure to look into the overall health of an individual. While blood pressure is a practical test to monitor for hearted disorders, it may not necessarily indicate whether the individual is experiencing another illness.

Hence, physical fitness must be regarded as a balance of several measures — both tangible and intangible. When you view fitness, it is your outlook on your body as well as your attitude towards your wellness and health. Therefore, hitting the gym every day does not mean the person is in optimum physical condition or is extremely physically fit. When you look at fitness, it is a means to be mentally and physically healthy with an overall impact on your well-being.

3. Physical Fitness Impacts Mental Health

Since fitness is broadly defined as the state of being physically able to move around without pain, consider fitness as achieving a high quality of life resulting in a happy and fulfilling life. Research connects fitness to:

• Enhanced energy levels
• A balanced work-life
• Improved immunity
• Better sleep quality

Additional research also reveals how fitness through exercise may possibly substitute medication in dealing with mild-to-moderate depression. Hence, being physically fit — no matter where you are without having to go to the gym — can help you better focus on productivity. This is because, when you are physically fit, it boosts the flow of blood and oxygen to the brain. There are diverse mental and emotional benefits to physical fitness. And these have tremendous effects on the quality of life.

4. Sleep and Exercise Are Connected

If you do not log a consistently healthy amount of quality sleep every night, no matter how much you work out or diet, it can side-track your fitness goals. When it comes to keeping your body functioning optimally, sleep is incredibly crucial. Lack of sleep can undermine your fitness objectives and, in the long run, can throw off your physical and mental health. When you are physically engaged during the day, it can help you to sleep better. If you clock 7 to 8 hours of adequate sleep every night, it will help you to maintain the energy you need to stick to your fitness goals and stay active during the day.

5. Fitness and Longevity

The short-term effects of being fit are immediate gratification. But what you may also want to know is that one of the most significant benefits of being physically fit for years or decades can result in long-term health and improved longevity. According to research, your body is fit and active; it extends the protective caps of chromosomes known as telomeres. These telomeres determine the ageing of your cells, and if you keep them in an optimal condition that is physically fit, it can extend your lifespan as well. Besides, being active can also cut down the risk of chronic disorders that take time to develop over the course of years and sometimes tickets such as cardiovascular disease, some types of cancers and type II diabetes. It can also help in preventing dementia.

Conclusion

When you give your body what it requires to thrive, that is, through fitness, you can reap innumerable benefits in mind and body. If the gym is not an option, remember to move about as much as possible during the day while sitting less. Do not consider exercise as time spent in the gym, instead view exercise as physically active and focusing on integrating movement and activity in your daily life.