| When you think of fitness, you may be thinking | | | | On the flip side, it is important to be aware of the |
| of well-toned bodies, rock-hard abs and generally, | | | | fact that a bad diet can affect your fitness |
| just a fit and outstanding physique. What if I told | | | | training, even if you follow the best type of |
| you that in order to be truly fit and feel great | | | | exercise plan available! In order to stay as healthy |
| you dont need to be a body builder? | | | | as possible, you need to combine a healthy diet |
| Fitness is more than exercise. If you think | | | | with a lot of exercise! |
| exercise and weight control are all there is to | | | | The average person needs at least twenty |
| fitness, you may be surprised! Fitness is a lifelong | | | | minutes of exercise three times a week. This is |
| pursuit, not a short term goal. "Physical fitness is | | | | not hard for most people to attain even if youre |
| defined as "a set of attributes that people have | | | | not used to any kind of fitness training. It will help |
| or achieve that relates to the ability to perform | | | | to strengthen your cardiovascular health and your |
| physical activity" (USDHHS, 1996). | | | | overall fitness. Regardless of what sort of physical |
| In fact, physical fitness is made up of five main | | | | activity you choose, you should burn about 3500 |
| components: cardio-respiratory endurance, | | | | calories per week. You will soon start feeling the |
| muscular strength, muscular endurance, body | | | | benefits! |
| composition and flexibility. | | | | When you start any type fitness plan it is |
| An interesting quote I came across is this: "The | | | | recommended that you talkto your doctor about |
| biggest obstacle people face in achieving physical | | | | it first. He may work out a specific exercise plan |
| and financial fitness is developing consistent and | | | | with you that is best suited for your particular |
| long-term healthy habits." This came from | | | | physical needs. Be sure to discuss with your |
| Countrywide Bank Managing Director, Pierre Habis. | | | | doctor any special health concerns like blood |
| Interestingly, it points up the fact that anything | | | | pressure, hypertension and any special diet needs |
| worth achieving should become a mindset based | | | | that you may have. |
| on a long term goal. Add anything that is worth | | | | It just cannot be stressed enough how the |
| while achieving to your regular life routine. | | | | combination of a healthy diet and exercise plan will |
| In general, physical fitness is the ability to do daily | | | | do wonders for your overall well being. It will |
| activities without feeling overly tired. Physical | | | | make you feel good mentally, emotionally, as well |
| fitness is especially beneficial in preventing | | | | as physically! |
| coronary heart disease and cardiovascular disease, | | | | Did you know that you can use diet to control |
| enhancing muscle quality, preventing muscular | | | | high blood pressure? Studies have shown that |
| deterioration and reducing depression. | | | | exercise has a role in keeping blood pressure |
| You see, true fitness is everything from proper | | | | from increasing. Yes; hypertension can be |
| sleep to proper nutrition, from stress reduction to | | | | controlled by physical activity, a low fat diet, and |
| weight reduction, and from flexibility to balance to | | | | reducing your salt intake, weight, and alcohol |
| relaxation. Being physically well toned and muscular | | | | consumption! |
| does not mean youre healthy. | | | | There is also increasing evidence that weight |
| Diet and exercise work together for your body's | | | | bearing exercises, like walking, dancing, running, |
| best interest. Thats because nutrition and physical | | | | and sports are all excellent for good bone health. |
| activity go together like bread and butter for our | | | | To balance your overall health, you need to have |
| bodies. Dieting alone is not going to be able to give | | | | a healthy diet that provides ample calcium, |
| you all of these health benefits. You need to have | | | | vitamins and minerals along with the adequate |
| the physical part as well. Exercise will aid in | | | | amount of exercise to keep your body working |
| digestion, provide strength and endurance, and | | | | great for the rest of your life. |
| does wonders for the heart. | | | | |