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"Fitness"
is a state of well-being, evidenced by vitality, maximized
physical potential, health, strength, and a robust shapely
body.
| Our
modern culture has eroded the definition of what true
fitness actually is. We have downgraded our expectations
for "health" and "fitness" to now
mean merely the "absence of debilitating illness".
If we are not sick, we consider ourselves to be "fit". |
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Over
the past few generations, our society has transformed from
the active, exercise-intense lifestyle that our forefathers
knew, into the sedentary, out of shape lifestyle that we now
accept as normal. Doctor-dependent, flabby, and out of breath,
we now consider it acceptable to have a minimally functional,
weak body. We seem content to maintain ourselves just
barely above the threshold of illness. We even have a new
word for this state of being. We call it "Wellness".
It is incredible that we actually now aspire just to be well.
We have lowered our physical expectations, and focused our
attention on achieving and maintaining this minimal goal of
"wellness". Our society now is struggling just to
not be sick.
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ILLNESS would most accurately describe your condition if
you are sick, feel terrible, are in bad shape, poor health
and are inactive.
- WELLNESS
would most accurately describe your condition if you are
not sick, feel OK but are out of shape, consider yourself
of average health, and are weaker than you should be.
- FITNESS
would most accurately describe your current condition if
you are thriving, in great shape, have optimal health, and
are firm and strong.
If you are ill, you will need the knowledge and help of a
doctor to get well. A doctor generally deals in the corrective.
We don't visit the doctor when we are well, but when we are
sick or injured, and they help us get back to a level of wellness.
If
you are well, and want to get fit, you will need the knowledge
and help of a fitness trainer and nutritionist. A certified
personal trainer specializes in helping you move from wellness
to fitness. Remember, fitness is evidenced by strength,
health, vitality, maximized physical potential, and a robust
shapely body.
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We
each have an achievable optimum level of fitness that
is our genetic potential. You cannot escape the consequences
of ignoring your fitness. The responsibility for your
fitness lies with you and you alone. You cannot delegate
your fitness to someone else. You cannot hire another
to be fit for you. |
Although
each of us has a unique level of strengths and limitations
dictated by our situation and our genetics, we each have the
potential to better our physical condition. We are either
watching our life and health slip away, or we are actively
involved in the pursuit of our best health and shape, our
genetic potential for greatest health, strength and fitness.
Sometimes a doctor or therapist may be needed to help you
to the point of wellness, and a fitness professional will
help you maximize your health and physical condition and get
you into your best shape.
ADVANTAGES
OF BEING FIT AND STRONG:
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today's world, anyone who is healthy and in great shape
stands out from the crowd. They are admired for beating
the curve, for taking control of their body, for breaking
free from the "wellness" mindset and achieving
a high performance body and healthy lifestyle. They not
only maximize their shape and develop a leaner, well-muscled
physique, but they also feel better, perform better,
have more energy, and are less prone to illness and injury. |
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Those
who live a lifestyle of fitness have far fewer medical
and psychological problems, avoid illness and disease,
and enhance their years with a healthier and higher quality
life. They are a sharp contrast to the flabby out-of-shape
masses who continue to spend ever increasing billions
of dollars each year on medical expenses, prescriptions,
diet pills, and yet continue to be plagued with an ever
increasing rate of poor health as a result of their not
being fit. |
The
Center for Disease Control, the surgeon general, the medical
and health care communities all recognize the benefits of
being fit.
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Helps you control weight
- Helps
you build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints
- Helps
you look and feel great
- Reduces
the risk of heart disease
- Reduces
the risk of developing diabetes
- Reduces
the risk of developing high blood pressure
- Helps
reduce blood pressure in people who already have high blood
pressure
- Reduces
the risk of dying prematurely
- Reduces
the risk of stroke
- Reduces
the risk of Osteoarthritis
- Reduces
the risk of Obstructive sleep apnea and respiratory problems
- Reduces
the risk of cancer (such as endometrial, breast, prostate,
and colon)
- Reduces
the risk of Gallstones
- Reduces
feelings of depression and anxiety
- Promotes
psychological well-being
- Reduces
the risk of Complications of pregnancy
- Helps
control reproductive health (such as menstrual irregularities,
infertility, irregular ovulation)
- Helps
older adults become stronger and better able to move about
without falling.
BECOMING
FIT :
You
have built the body that you currently have by programing
it to adapt to your habits and lifestyle. If you are flabby
and out of shape, you have programed your body to be that
way. To get back into shape, what is needed is to reestablish
a proper balance of calorie intake and restore healthy lifestyle
activities that will encourage the body to adapt in a positive
way.
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body functions best when it is muscularly active regularly,
and receives the proper nutrients needed to support this
function. All of the systems that make up our body
can support each other and function in harmony when our
body is adapting to maximize it's potential. (Use
it of lose it). |
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You
don't have to spend the rest of your life trapped in an unfit
body!
Living Strong Fitness Training can reprogram your bodies systems
to fitness and health. Many have done it, and you can do it
too. The pages of the Living Strong website are filled with
the info that you need.
Visit our other pages to learn how you can become more fit,
strong, shapely, and healthy. You will learn the relevance
and applications of Four Fundamentals of Fitness:
- Appropriate
Exercise
- Appropriate
Nutrition
- Appropriate
Hydration
- Appropriate
Rest and Recovery
Now
let's get going. Visit the next page FAT
FACTS, to learn more about our bodies "energy deposits".
Then be sure to continue on to EXERCISE
FACTS, NUTRITION FACTS,
STRENGTH FACTS, HOW
TO GET FIT, and all of our other great resources at GREAT
ARTICLES.
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