Beyond Exercise: Defining Fitness

14 years ago

Hi Karen,

I feel fitness is a combination of physical and mental components. The body is a slave to the mind. For many years I had a phenomenal body but needed homework upstairs. These days I would never consider the old me fit, even though I could run for 2 hours, bench 350 and had shredded abs. I *needed* to be fit and didn't enjoy the process of becoming physically fit. It was a sick obsession.

Now my workout regimen consists of a 45 - 60 min walk a day and I've never felt more fit. It's because I've ceased to force things mentally.

RB

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KaizenCoach 14 years ago

Hey Ryan,

Thanks for responding!

You touch on some key points. The body is dependent on the mind, and mindset is essential in defining fitness and health - no matter what the apparent state of the body.

What we believe about our value, our health and well being, our body, and about what eating well and exercising means is at the crux of why there is a huge gap between what we know what we should do - or even want to do - and what we actually do. We're bombarded with information yet as a nation we are increasingly suffering from expensive chronic diseases directly related to our lifestyle : overweight, unfit, poor nutrition, poor sleep quality, over-stressed.

Many high achievers secretly believe you can't live healthy and conduct business at the same time - a HUGE error in judgment. There is a belief that self-sacrifice of our health is the price for financial and family success. Being healthy and fit increases our performance in many ways but it all stems from energy. Energy is the essential currency of life and success.

Our businesses becomes truly sustainable when we consciously invest in our health and well being. So sad to see someone who has all the trappings of wealth but lacks their health, happiness and sense of well being. Its Mind-Body-Business a triad that successful people live by.

Ryan, your experience is out of the ordinary in the general population, but very common in the body-building and gym-fitness world. I saw it daily when I owned a multi-purpose fitness facility in the '90's. that and young women with exercise bulimia and eating disorders. Not healthy even if they looked "good". Glad you made changes to champion yourself and found balance.

Walking is EXCELLENT. I see it as a highly adaptable kind of medicine - so good for body, mind and spirit in the right dosages. Hope you're adding some strengthening and flexibility training into the mix. There are great 'natural ways to do it out of the gym.

All the Best!

Karen
KAIZENWellness.com
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KaizenCoach

14 years ago

OK - so after working with clients today with this question in the back of my mind, here are some of the reasons that my most successful clients want to be fit and healthy:

To have more energy for their business/job
To experience less toxic stress from their business/job/family
To be able to travel the world and explore things easily
To play more actively with their children
To enjoy activities they love passionately like dancing, skiing and ice skating
To improve their chances of fertility
To have the stamina to enjoy their lives
To improve their relationship with their body - make friends
To avoid the deterioration that can come with age

~ To refuse to settle for an OK life and rather commit to a great life ~

Karen

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Brock Henry

14 years ago

There is such a powerful clarity of mind that comes with being totally fit...mind, body, and soul. When I see myself making progress toward well-rounded fitness like that, I find a wonderfully warm peace wash over me. My whole outlook on life brightens and my level of productivity skyrockets. Beyond that, the quality of what I do rises exponentially.

Abraham Maslow had a lot of insight when he sketched out his "hierarchy of needs". Our peak experiences often (although admittedly, not always) come when when have first satisfied our craving for balance and health (again, including mind, body, and soul).

The trick is developing the self-discipline to slow down long enough to hear that voice inside of us that's crying out for re-balancing and nurture. We live such fast-paced lives that days, weeks, and even years can go by without us stopping to take personal inventory.

In the end, it seems that true fitness isn't simply a good idea for living a fulfilling life, it's an absolute essential.

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KaizenCoach

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Brock Henry

There is such a powerful clarity of mind that comes with being totally fit...mind, body, and soul. When I see myself making progress toward well-rounded fitness like that, I find a wonderfully warm peace wash over me. My whole outlook on life brightens and my level of productivity skyrockets. Beyond that, the quality of what I do rises exponentially.

Abraham Maslow had a lot of insight when he sketched out his "hierarchy of needs". Our peak experiences often (although admittedly, not always) come when when have first satisfied our craving for balance and health (again, including mind, body, and soul).

The trick is developing the self-discipline to slow down long enough to hear that voice inside of us that's crying out for re-balancing and nurture. We live such fast-paced lives that days, weeks, and even years can go by without us stopping to take personal inventory.

In the end, it seems that true fitness isn't simply a good idea for living a fulfilling life, it's an absolute essential.

LOVE this Brock! Thanks for sharing!

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andybeveridge

14 years ago

When I was in my 20s-30s I could run ten miles in around the hour mark. I worked really hard to try and get down lower than 6 minute mile pace. Looking back it was not really fun, more like hard work driven by obsession.

Now I am 52 and live in the beautiful Pyrenees(thankyou Internet marketing) Now when I go for my mountain runs I average probably 8-9 minute pace, but cares?
I see so much nature now. Every run I see more beautiful things then I ever did before. When I run or walk in the foothills I feel truly alive.

I am not really healthier. I am diabetic and a couple of stone heavier than my competitive days, but because I now take the time to look around me. I feel so much better in myself.
I guess what I am saying is I enjoy my relationship with the world far more than I ever did before. So my brain is healthier and that makes a difference to my soul.

Great thread.

Andy

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love earth

Banned 14 years ago

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bannersignsexpress Banned 14 years ago

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- bioelectricsteroid 14 years ago
  
  I have a motto. Get in great shape, great things happen for you, good shape, good things happen, mediocre shape..................... well you get it.
  
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DianeBrandt

14 years ago

Fitness is a way of life. Being fit is more than just being slim.

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theory expert

Banned 14 years ago

Fitness is about being your best you. It transcends other areas of your life. Fitness is about discipline of mind, body, and, actions. At least in theory.

In reality, most people excel in some areas of their life and flop in others.

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starmo

14 years ago

The word "fitness" irks me. Why? When mentioned, the majority of people frown upon it because it gives off the aura of hard work and doing something you don't enjoy doing.

So simply put; If you are not, in some way, shape, or form, "working out" (and I use that term loosely) you are doing your body and mind a great disservice.

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KaizenCoach

14 years ago

Originally Posted by starmo

The word "fitness" irks me. Why? When mentioned, the majority of people frown upon it because it gives off the aura of hard work and doing something you don't enjoy doing.

So simply put; If you are not, in some way, shape, or form, "working out" (and I use that term loosely) you are doing your body and mind a great disservice.

First, thanks for joining the conversation...

You bring up a major issue: the belief that actively moving the body must be work, and more specifically punishment. The understandable response is, "If exercising is just one more stress, than why bother?" This is a key factor contributing to the growing gap between knowledge and action in this realm. There are clear reasons behind why otherwise successful people continue to struggle with overweight condition, and a host of lifestyle based health conditions.

Loss of the pleasure principle is one of those reasons. I try to limit the phrase "work-out" with my clients and interject "play", "experiment" and "adventure" as much as possible. The BEST exercise is the one you're going to DO

.

Right On,

Karen

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King Shiloh

Banned 14 years ago

I'm fit if I can do what my mates can do without stress.

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fayehines

14 years ago

Yes, exercise can help you live longer but flossing your teeth can do the same. I believe exercise has a place and shouldn't be done too much. Eating right is the key and I think the dieting industry is so huge because it can't teach people how to eat only when they are hungry and stopping when they are no longer hungry.

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neonpatrick

13 years ago

The word fitness has thousand of meaning and everyone defines it in different words. exercise3 helps in building the fitness. Exercise is very good for the health. Eating good quality of protien and vitamin rich food. I do regular exercise in the morning time.

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Jeremy Raglin

13 years ago

I define fitness as taking time for me everyday by eating right, exercising at least 45 minutes per day, reading, praying and working on my artwork in the evenings. All of these things help me to have more focus during my day and not get stressed out in my business.

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lauraholte

13 years ago

Fitness doesn't just mean strong muscles. Being fit has many benefits. A healthy heart, healthier muscles bones, and joints, more energy are just some of those.

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Amrutg

13 years ago

fitness should be of both mind and body. it includes healthy body ad sound mind. for leading happy life we should have both healthy body and sound mind.

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Lee A Bracey

13 years ago

Fitness to me is the building and storage of 'vital energy'.

I used to think as a child that the body building lifestyle meant fit (due partly from growing up with Arnold Swarchenegger influence and movies), but look at him now...Body building builds muscle. Cardio builds lungs and heart. So, you have developed your muscular framework, improved your O2 intake, but what about the energetic influence that fuels all of the above?

In my early 30's I began using Eastern methods of energy cultivation and WOW...muscle gain, cardio, meditation, stress relief, tremendous energy that lasts all day, vitality, mental training, etc. ALL ROLLED INTO ONE SIMPLE PRACTICE.

It provides energy to the help the organs function at optimal levels and the body to heal itself.

I have not been sick in a decade! No joke.

I have more energy than many 20 year olds, require less sleep, am more productive, heal from injury faster, have calm mind, relaxed body, and much much more.

The way I see it, you can build muscles (weight lifting), improve lung and heart function (running, elliptical, etc) Meditate (mental training) Counseling (emotional soothing) Take supplements for energy and caffeine...Or YOU COULD DO ONE PRACTICE TO DELIVER ALL OF THE ABOVE IN ONLY MINUTES A DAY...REALLY!

Sorry to sound 'sales pitchy', I just love the Eastern methods over Western. The Chinese got it figured out Many Many years ago...

Lee

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naruq 13 years ago

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- hardraysnight 13 years ago
  
  like nike say - just do it.
  
  if you need a reason, look in the mirror sometime.
  
  too many people spend too much time reading and talking about it and not enough time doing it
  
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ccora

13 years ago

I agree with all the points contributed here so far but I do have to add that one of the factors that I look at as part of my overall fitness and health is the results of my blood and urine tests at the doctor's each year. I want to know what's going on inside of me, and I don't just mean spiritual or mental (even though those are important too).

Another factor that is usually ignored by even fitness professionals is flexibility. I was in martial arts competition for many years where flexibility is a key component. The average person doesn't need extreme flexibility like martial artists or dancers do but everyone still experiences decreases in flexibility as we age if this is not kept up.

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rubertnrubert

13 years ago

Without exercise you can not be fit. Exercise is very important for getting fit. While walking is best exercise. By this you be healthy. There are many exercise. You also do yoga and maditation for getting fitness. It is also good for health.

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Michael Johnson

13 years ago

I believe that being fit is a lifestyle....a way of life....being fit physically will lead to being fit mentally

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Susovan 13 years ago

I would define fitness as a perfect equilibrium of physical and psychological state of am individual. Fitness is important for success. One can achieve fitness by many ways. But the things that I personally pursue are----

1. Living a simple life
2. Live in present and at times consciously plan for future-- no place for moaning on any misdeed or failure in the past
3. listening to good music; this gives me energy and freshness
4. Everyday think about what I have done, if I did anything wrong or anything that could have been done in a better way
5. 45 mins brisk walking every morning--no ear phone practice
6. Lot of reading everyday to keep myself updated so that i can take part in any discussion
7. building relationships and maintaining the old ones
8. remain busy with work and find out ways and how fruitfully I can use time t create more value
9. Spending a lot of time during weekends for social work--working for orphans, street children etc.---this gives me an insight into the issues deeply rooted in the society
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rozerleft

13 years ago

Constantly varied, functional movement! Across multiple domains of health .... sounds like a good way! I might also add ... if you work with people, you should switch, who wrote / picking exercise, we tend to our favorite. Melissa liked this article! You always have great ideas and insights!

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Debra Barrow

13 years ago

Exercising, fitness program, working out; regardless of what you call you it, is simple dedication.

Working out consistently, day-to-day, requires discipline. Much like your business, in order to see results, you have to work towards it everyday. Then, once the goal is reached, there needs to be plans in place to maintain that success.

Basically, people who are disciplined enough to carry out a daily, lifelong exercise program, most likely use that same quality in other areas of their lives. And, it is not always fun...you just do it.

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haronbarkinson

12 years ago

Health should be sensible. Your workout routines should help you achieve more and more properly, in your everyday life - not just when you are managing a competition or enjoying a game. I love to maintain my physic and so I always do exercise.

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Beyond Exercise: Defining Fitness

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