Definition of Physical
Fitness
Why Physical Fitness is Important
What
is the Definition of Physical Fitness ?
The Definition of Physical Fitness is Relative
 When you think of physical fitness you
may think of athletic feats such as Lance Armstrong riding endlessly through the Swiss Alps.
Maybe you think of professional football players sprinting past their
competition? You may even think of bodybuilders flexing their ripped
muscles on stage.
What about the contortionists performing on stage
bending their bodies as far as they can bend?
What about someone who is confined to a wheel chair? Do you
think physical fitness means the same thing to them as it does to you or a
professional athlete?
The Point is, Physical Fitness vastly Differs from Person to Person
What you consider physically fit others may not. You may be proud of
your 7 minute mile, but professional track stars would think it is slow. You may feel tremendously proud for your 200 pound bench press but a professional powerlifter would not be so happy.
Athletic feats are part of physical fitness but there is far more reasons why
physical fitness is important. It is best to look at physical fitness
as a hierarchy to attempt an accurate general definition.
How to Interpret Definition of Physical Fitness Hierarchy
Base Level
The base level of the physical fitness pyramid highlights the
primary reason why physical fitness is important. This level of physical
fitness directly relates to quality of life. A physically fit body has
less chance of acute health problems and chronic disease.
The base level of physical fitness represents your ability to efficiently
perform the anaerobic and aerobic activities of daily living (ADLs) which exist
in your environment on a daily basis in addition to novel tasks which may arise
during day to day living.
Mid Level
Only after your body has grown accustomed to the the base level of physical
fitness you can advance to the mid level. The middle level of
the pyramid is about adaptation and improvement.
Most people remain at the mid level for their entire lifetime as they adapt
and progress only to regress and start the process over and over again.
In order to improve mid level physical fitness it is important to have a
balanced exercise program. Exercise selection should focus on all 5
components of fitness.
Top Level
Very few are able to reach the top level of the physical fitness hierarchy.
Elite athletes often spend their entire lifetime aiming to reach the very top
level.
The top level of physical fitness tends to mesh physiology and psychology.
In order to reach the top level of physical fitness one must reach their full
potential.
Why is Physical Fitness Important to You ?
Agree or Disagree with the Fitness Hierarchy you will Have your Own Definition
of Physical Fitness
The hierarchy of physical fitness consists of general ideas that apply to the
population as a whole.
The meaning of physical fitness varies from person person.
For example, if you are a former athlete born to an athletic family you will
have higher expectations than a sedentary person from a sedentary family who is
new to exercise.
Physical fitness may be important to you because it improves the quality of
your life or it may be important to you simply because it's what you enjoy to
do. Regardless of why physical fitness is so important to you, it is
important.
What is Your Definition of
Physical Fitness ?
Personal Trainers from Around the World Express their Definition
of Physical Fitness
"The human bodies ability to move with desired speed, balance, agility and
strength gained through proper exercise and nutrition."
--Don Hoskins, Phoenix AZ, USA
"Physical fitness is training for LIFE. It's the body's ability to be able to
withstand whatever life throws it's way! Sprinting, jumping, walking, playing
with grandchildren...physical fitness is specific to the individual and
therefore, training to improve and maintain it should be as well!"
-Sarah
E. Rippel, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
"Physical fitness is going through the day with a sense of confidence that you
can put whatever the day has in store for you on your back, hold it there for
awhile, and then set it back down later, with good form. It can give you peace
of mind that you are better equipped to handle the physical challenges of daily
life, from reaching high to bending low, from running with a purpose, or running
with no purpose at all. You can be carrying your whole life in a bag everyday to
carrying just you, everywhere. Physical fitness is not a race, it's a pursuit.
There is no finish line to look for, but a new starting line to cross everyday.
The only real "goal" is to never finish. Physical fitness is human, being."
-Tom Bravo, Jacksonville, FL, USA
"Fitness is the ability to adapt to the demands placed an individual by their
environment. Physical Fitness is just applying such a definition to the
physical demands an individuals environment may place on them."
-Daniel Andrews, Champaign, IL, USA
"A structurally sound foundation to prevent injury,
develop quality, and find wellness to enhance our function of life."
-Drew Foster, Spring TX, USA
At the very least, the body's physical ability to efficiently cope
with the specific and intermittent extraordinary imposed demands
which occur on a daily and intermittent basis.
-Jerry Telle, Lakewood CO, USA
"The synergy of flexibility, mobility, power, strength and endurance over a
continuous set of cyclic or acyclic movements in order to beat the opposition."
-Frederick Levy, Southampton, UK
Contact with Your Definition of
Physical Fitness
Why Physical Fitness should be Important to You
Physical
Fitness
You now know the definition of
physical fitness but you can find much more information about the world of
physical fitness here.
Benefits to Exercise
The definition of physical fitness is very individual. The
benefits of physical fitness are universal. Read about the obvious and not so obvious benefits
of physical exercise.
5 Components of Physical Fitness
According the the definition of physical fitness, you should be proficient at
all 5 components of physical fitness in order to consider your self physically
fit.
Exercise Information
Now that you know
Why Physical Fitness is Important you can begin weight training to
become more physically fit. Back to the
Physical Fitness Trainer Home Page
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