Physical Fitness Is More Than 6 Pack Abs

Friends, why do you workout? Is it to look good-maybe to flaunt those 6 pack abs? To feel good? To prevent disease and promote longevity? To lose weight? Maybe even maintain your current weight? All of these are valid reasons to exercise. The important thing is that we do not lose sight of what is really important, which is the QUALITY of life that is enhanced by being physically fit.

That being said, many of you may wonder what exactly defines a “fit” person. Well, that definition may be a little different for each person. For example, a bodybuilder may want to

6 pack abs are usually a trademark of physically fit people because they tend to have lower body fat percentages allowing the muscles to show.

look more muscular and add more bulk than say, a yoga instructor. The thing is, however, that being “fit” is not determined solely by our physical appearance. A perfect example of this is a visibly “thin” person with high cholesterol, or very little endurance. Simply being “thin” does not necessarily mean you are fit. A thin, sedentary person may not be “overweight”, but can very well be “over fat”-or carrying excess body fat.

Now I know this idea may be hard for many to grasp, so I thought I might outline the five key components of physical fitness. Physical fitness is the ability to function effectively throughout your workday, perform your usual other activities and still have enough energy left over to handle any extra stresses or emergencies which may arise.

The first of the five key categories that make up physical fitness is Cardiorespiratory (CR) endurance. Cardiorespiratory endurance is the efficiency with which the body delivers oxygen and nutrients needed for muscular activity and transports waste products from the cells. This describes how well your body cleanses, replenishes, and fuels itself, and is a direct indicator of a person’s fitness level. A “fit” person’s heart, for example does not have to work as hard to deliver blood throughout the body than a person who is out of shape. Their heart, therefore is more efficient-it produces greater results with less effort.

The second category is muscular strength. This is the greatest amount of force a muscle or muscle group can exert in a single effort. This one is pretty self explanatory. The more a person works out and exercises, the more strength they will develop. This is very clearly demonstrated in weight lifting. While you may only be able to lift say, 10 pounds for bicep curls when you first start strength training, if you work the muscle consistently and effectively, a few months down the road those 10 pound dumbbells will be a joke to you. Why? Because you have increased your muscle strength and are more fit than when you started.

The third category is muscular endurance which is the ability of a muscle or muscle group to perform repeated movements with a sub-maximal force for extended periods of times. More simply put, it’s stamina-the ability to keep on going. If you are training for a marathon for example, you may only be able to run a couple miles when you first start training before your leg muscles give out on you. With time and proper training, your leg muscles become accustomed to greater distances and build up endurance to successfully complete the race.

Flexibility is the next one-and it’s a big one because so many people overlook it and treat it as less important than other aspects of fitness. Flexibility is extremely important because it is the ability to move the joints or any group of joints through an entire, normal range of motion. If you are a martial artist for example, but can’t lift your leg above your waist due to a limited range of motion, you can and will really injure yourself by trying to kick a target above that height. If you play tennis but have difficulty raising your arm above your head, your serve-and your game-are really going to suffer the consequences. Even in everyday living flexibility is important. That’s why we hear of so many people “throwing out their back” as they age. A big part of the problem is decreased flexibility.

The last, and probably most widely used measure of physical fitness is body composition. This is the percentage of body fat a person has in comparison to his or her total body mass. I have said time and again that WEIGHT does not give you the total picture. Remember the example I gave a while back? If you have 2 men for example, each 6-feet tall and weighing 200 pounds- Man “A” has 30% body fat while man “B” has 6% body-they are going to look VERY different from one another. Man “B” will appear to be much “fitter” than man “A” and is much more likely to have those coveted 6 pack abs because he has a lower percent body fat.

Improving the first three components of fitness listed above will have a positive impact on body composition and will result in less fat. Excessive body fat detracts from the other fitness components, reduces performance, detracts from appearance, and negatively affects your health. A sensible weight loss and fitness program seeks to improve or maintain all the components of physical fitness through sound, progressive, mission specific physical training.

Now the beauty of it is that we all have the potential to be fit-the same principles of exercise apply to everyone at all levels of physical training. From the Olympic-caliber athlete to the weekend jogger, these basic principles of exercise must be followed. So, make the choice to take care of your health and your body. Make fitness a priority TODAY and start improving your quality of life.

Take Charge!

P.S. Want to: Learn the “Easy” way to get and stay in shape? Discover the secret to quick fat loss? How to exercise less and get better results? Discover the secret to ripped abs without doing endless crunches? Then be sure to get my “Amazing Fat Burning Formula” HERE.

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