Do you know the difference between fitness and health?
Most people think that being healthy and being fit are one and the same thing.
In reality, these can be two distinct physical states. You can be very fit and not very healthy, and you can be very healthy and not very fit.
The greatest benefits are found by trying to achieve a balance on both sides, which requires identifying the difference between fitness and health .
So let's define the difference. The World Health Organization has defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
It includes aging well, longevity, quality of life, freedom from pain, etc.
Physical fitness, on the other hand, is defined as a set of attributes that people possess or achieve that are related to the ability to perform physical activity.
Fitness is made up of many components, and the following factors should be considered when discussing fitness levels:
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Endurance (cardiovascular and cardiorespiratory): This is your body's ability to use and deliver oxygen to your body.
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Stamina (muscular endurance): This is your body's ability to store, process and use energy.
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Strength: It is the ability of your muscles or a muscle unit to apply force.
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Flexibility: The ability to maximize the range of motion of a joint.
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Power: The ability of your muscles to maximize their force in a minimum amount of time.
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Speed: The ability to minimize the time it takes you to complete a task or movement.
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Coordination: The ability to combine several different movements into one distinct movement.
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Precision: The ability to control movement in a given direction or intensity.
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Agility: The ability to minimize the time it takes to transition from one movement to another.
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Balance: The ability to control your body's center of gravity in relation to your base of support.
Physical fitness involves any activity that stimulates the different systems of the body and maintains a certain condition in the body.
Health, on the other hand, involves all the systems of the body and can only be achieved through a lifestyle that promotes health.
For example, if one of my clients tells me that he has neglected to eat properly, has ignored fat content and has been eating mostly processed foods, all the exercise in the world will not be able to correct the damage caused by such a lifestyle.
Exercise will not eliminate the damage caused by chemicals, nor improve the damage to the immune system or the weakness of depleted foods.
Only a healthy diet can contribute to good health. Of course, fitness can ALSO contribute to health and will improve it if it is part of a LIFESTYLE. Our health is mainly the result of thousands of daily nutritional decisions.
As you continue your personal health journey, or simply get back on track, ask yourself this simple question: “Am I on the path to fitness and health, or just fitness ?”
If your answer is "just fit," try integrating other aspects of wellness into a more comprehensive plan that revolves around the combination of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
If it's just about being healthy so I don't have to worry about the doctor anymore, ask yourself what can I do to accomplish more and live my life to the fullest?
Being healthy is great, but if you can't walk up the stairs without panting and being tired all day, or enjoy your vacation, what's the point?
Talk to your exercise physiologist and make sure you address both sides of the equation, set health and fitness/performance goals. Then step back and observe how you are thriving.
Why is health important in life?
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Physical fitness is not the only basis of health; being healthy means being mentally and emotionally fit.
Being healthy should be part of your overall lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle can help prevent chronic diseases and long-term illnesses.
Feeling good about yourself and taking care of your health is important for your self-esteem and self-image. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by doing what is good for your body.
If you want to be a balanced and healthy individual, here are some tips for staying healthy that can help you do so:
Maintain a regular exercise program
No, you don't have to force yourself to do intense workouts at the gym, but you should stay as active as possible.
You can stick to easy floor exercises, swimming, walking, or simply keep moving by doing some household chores.
Do what your body allows you to do.
The important thing is that you keep exercising.
Spend at least twenty to thirty minutes a day exercising, at least three to five times a week.
Have a routine; make sure you get enough physical activity every day.
Be aware of your diet
No, you don't have to force yourself to do intense workouts at the gym, but you should stay as active as possible.
You can stick to easy floor exercises, swimming, walking, or simply keep moving by doing some household chores.
Do what your body allows you to do.
The important thing is that you continue to exercise. Devote at least twenty to thirty minutes a day to exercise, at least three to five times a week.
Have a routine; make sure you get enough physical activity every day.
Engage in things you are passionate about
Every now and then, to keep the stress and demands of life from taking over, take a break to do something you are passionate about.
Surround yourself with positive energy
To have a healthy mental and emotional state, you need to surround yourself with positive energy. Yes, not all problems can be avoided.
But it helps to face these obstacles with an optimistic outlook. Surround yourself with friends and encouraging people who will give you constructive criticism from time to time to help you improve.
Make it a habit to always look on the bright side of life. Even if you find yourself in the worst situation, there is always a positive side to the situation, something good and positive. Focus on those things instead.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is not that difficult and does not require a lot of work.
Just keep doing what you are doing and apply the tips for staying healthy listed above – you will definitely become a well-rounded person in no time.
What makes a person fit and healthy?
Is being physically active the same as being healthy?
Most people think that if they are able to perform the physical activity required for their job or leisure activities, they are physically fit.
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous.
Physical activity is any movement or bodily activity that results in the expenditure of energy.
This movement may be related to your work, household chores, leisure activities or transportation.
By comparison, physical fitness refers to a person's ability to perform physical activity.
What does it mean to be physically fit?
To be in good physical condition you must have:
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Aerobic (cardiovascular) endurance, which is the ability of your heart and lungs to supply oxygen during sustained physical activity;
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Muscular endurance and strength to perform an activity without fatigue and with the strength needed to do the job; and
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A healthy body composition, determined by the relative amount of body fat, muscle, bone mass, and flexibility.
The physically fit person is able to perform daily tasks with agility, power and coordination and has enough energy to enjoy leisure activities and cope with unforeseen emergencies.
To get the benefits of fitness, what do I need to do to move from being a physically active person to a physically fit person?
Exercise is a form of physical activity that is planned, repetitive, and purposeful with the goal of achieving or maintaining physical fitness.
If you have a desk job and aren't physically active outside of work, there is still hope.
Studies show that people who improve their health the most are those who do no activity and then start doing some.
To start, you can go outside and walk, do some gardening or cleaning, or play with your dog.
Any form of physical activity counts. Even if you walk for ten minutes during your break at work, you will start to make a positive difference.
What are the health benefits of exercise and fitness?
There is a positive relationship between physical activity and health. More recent data conclude that physical inactivity results in approximately 300,000 deaths per year in the United States alone.
In contrast, the life expectancy of physically active people increases by 3.7 years.
Other specific benefits of exercise include reduced risk of heart disease, heart attacks and cancer, better diabetes control and improved bone health.
Exercise helps patients with depression and people trying to quit smoking. Older people gain strength and are less likely to fall.
How do I start an exercise program?
A person with no health problems can start with a low intensity and gradually increase.
Otherwise, just to be sure, talk to your doctor before you start.
The U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines recommend
- About 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity (30 minutes, five days per week), or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.
- Muscle-strengthening activities involving all major muscle groups, performed two or more days per week.
Choose an activity that you enjoy, that fits easily into your daily schedule and that does not place an unnecessary financial burden on you.
Finally, exercising with a friend may be more fun for you than exercising alone.
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