Why You Really Need To Keep Fit
Physical fitness is a general state of health and well-being or specifically the ability to perform aspects of sports or occupations. Physical fitness is generally achieved through correct nutrition, exercise, hygiene and rest. It is a set of attributes or characteristics that people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity.
Before the industrial revolution, fitness was the capacity to carry out the day’s activities without undue fatigue. However with automation and changes in lifestyles physical fitness is now considered a measure of the body’s ability to function efficiently and effectively in work and leisure activities, to be healthy, to resist hypo-kinetic diseases, and to meet emergency situations. But then, let’s see what fitness is all about.
Fitness is defined as the quality of being suitable to perform a particular task. A holistic definition of fitness is described by Greg Glassman in the Cross Fitt journal as the mastery of several attributes of fitness including strength, endurance, power, speed, balance and coordination; each of these component is developed as part of a physical fitness program, or regular physical activity.
A comprehensive fitness program tailored to an individual typically focuses on one or more specific skills and on age- or health-related needs such as bone health. Physical fitness can also prevent or treat many chronic health conditions brought on by unhealthy lifestyle or aging.Related article: Think you know all the rules on healthy eating? A top scientist has lots of surprises
Objectives Of Fitness
The physical fitness education buttresses down to three objectives, which are: its physical, social and cultural
1. The objective of physical fitness – It refers to that state where an individual has developed great endurance, speed, strength etc. Physical fitness is essential to leading a happy, vigorous and abundant life.
2. The objective of social efficiency – It concerned with one’s proper adaptation to group living. Physical education activities provides ample opportunities to develop traits such as cooperation, respect to others, loyalty, sportsmanship, self confidence etc. All these qualities help a person to make him a good citizen.
3. The objective of culture – It aims at developing an understanding and appreciation of one’s own local environment as well as the environment which is world-wide in scope. By participation in various physical education activities such as dance, sports and games, a person fully understand the history, culture, tradition, religious practices etc and the aesthetic values associated with these activities.
Benefits Of Fitness
1. Improves condition of heart and lungs by increasing the oxygen available to the body therefore enabling the heart to use oxygen more efficiently.
2. Development of physical fitness components such as strength, endurance , agility, flexibility, etc and improvement of muscle tone.
3. Fosters correct posture, figure, body image, and physical appearance.
4. Quick recovery after injury, illness and decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease.
5. Reduces and controls body fat, exercise combined with a proper diet will reduce body fat and also fulfill proper nutritional requirement.
6. Increases energy level of a person and helps to maintain ideal body weight.
7. Through participation in physical fitness program, leisure (free) time is properly utilized.
8. Improve mood and reduce depression and anxiety.
9. Postpones fatigue and reduces recovery time after vigorous activity.
10. Helps people to meet challenges of life, make them self confident and postpones aging process.
11. Working out helps people sleep better and have a better mood. To stay healthy, it is important to engage in physical activity.
Conclusively, living healthy should be our priority because health is wealth.
