061 Health and fitness
After having an in-depth conversation with an endurance ultra runner, and them proclaiming that they are fit due to being able to run long distances and not being overweight, I thought it worth while to dig a little deeper into what is health and what actually is overall fitness.
Definition of health:
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".
Definition of fitness in 100 words:
Eat meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch and no sugar. Keep intake to levels that will support exercise but not body fat. Practice and train major lifts: Deadlift, clean, squat, presses, C&J, and snatch. Similarly, master the basics of gymnastics: pull-ups, dips, rope climb, push-ups, sit-ups, presses to handstand, pirouettes, flips, splits, and holds. Bike, run, swim, row, etc, hard and fast. Five or six days per week mix these elements in as many combinations and patterns as creativity will allow. Routine is the enemy. Keep workouts short and intense. Regularly learn and play new sports. ~Coach Greg Glassman, CrossFit Founder and CEO (Courtesy of CrossFit Inc.)
The 10 components of fitness:
1. Cardiovascular / Respiratory Endurance
2. Stamina
3. Strength
4. Flexibility
5. Power
6. Speed
7. Coordination
8. Agility
9. Balance
10. Accuracy
* I would also argue that having a healthy range of overall muscle to fat ratio is also a component of fitness.
As we can see from the above someone can be healthy but not necessarily fit, health and fitness are two completely different things, and fitness is a complete overall holistic thing, not just a singular element.
Refer a friend - Introduce a friend to Apex Athletic and as a thank you for your recommendation you will receive one 1:1 personal training session. Terms and conditions apply.
Cirencester Personal Trainer
Apex Athletic - Unit 7
Esland Place - Love Lane
Cirencester - GL7 1YG
Comments