What Does Fitness Mean to You?
“What Does Fitness Mean to You?”
The definition of fitness, to be physically fit and healthy, will be understood differently by everyone. To some, it may mean having the ability to complete an intense workout four days per week, to others it may mean walking up the stairs at home without becoming puffed out or even playing soccer in the backyard with the kids for an hour in the evening. In this blog post, I want to discuss health as a way of living, rather than a goal. So, you can feel good and have the energy to achieve what you want in life. Let’s dive in.
Your Relationship With Your Body
What is your current mindset about your fitness and health level? Do you have a positive relationship with your body or are you constantly putting yourself down? It’s important to remember that health looks different for everyone and comparing yourself to others will only lead to disappointment. If you have a fitness or health goal, I recommend first reminding yourself that it isn’t your speed in achieving the goal that matters, rather the direction that you’re traveling in. Health is not about the weight you lose or the strength that you build, rather it’s the life and energy that you gain. The better that you learn to treat your body, the more it will work with you to achieve your desired outcomes.
Exercise and Movement
Thinking about your goals and mapping out how to reach them with a plan is important to keep you on course. When deciding on your goals, make sure to manage your expectations and set realistic goals that are achievable. This will ensure you stay motivated and determined as, if goals are too long-term, they will feel insurmountable and it’s highly likely that you will feel overwhelmed and give up.
A great way to reach your fitness and life goals is to find someone that you can regularly check in with to keep you accountable. This can be a friend, family member or someone you’ve met on social media. The important thing is that this person must be positive and encouraging and that you do the same for them. You can both start small and then build on your goals like steps to success.
Nutrition
Nutrition is just as important as physical activity in developing your fitness. I recommend creating healthy habits for your routine, however, remember not to implement difficult restrictions otherwise you may start to become resentful of your health goals. For example, if you are looking to lose weight, try to eat as healthy as possible 5-6 days per week and if you do enjoy a dessert after dinner on a Sunday night, don’t feel guilty about it. Life is to be enjoyed in moderation, your fitness goals won’t suffer if you indulge every now and then. You can always set yourself a goal of exercising say 4 times per week and if you achieve this goal and eat healthily during the week, your treat is your favorite restaurant dinner. Set in place rewards for yourself along your fitness journey, it will keep you motivated to continue.
Make the Right Choices for Your Body
As I’ve alluded to already, your definition of fitness will depend on your lifestyle, age, goals, health and well-being. If you want to improve your fitness, whether this is your body composition, flexibility, muscle strength, endurance or any other aspect, remember that setting realistic and attainable goals as well as having balance is important, go at your own pace. What does fitness mean to you? I’d love to know.
Stay tuned for more motivational blog posts and remember to follow me on Instagram at [@midnightfit].