The concept of physical fitness and what it means can be different from one person to the next. Experts have a clear definition of what it means to be fit, and most people understand some of these elements.
True physical fitness, however, involves several parts of a successful plan.
Whether you’re getting ready to start a new fitness plan or you’ve been working on one for quite some time, here are elements of a successful fitness plan that everyone should incorporate into their lives.
Components of a Successful Fitness Plan
1. Cardiovascular fitness: This element is extremely important to any fitness plan. It involves the health and stamina of the heart and nervous system, as well as the circulation that goes through the human body.
Aerobic exercise is an excellent way to ensure cardiovascular fitness, but brisk walking and other similar habits can also help. This element determines how well oxygen is delivered to the brain and lungs, and ensures the body gets what it needs.
2. Muscle strength: The muscles are an integral element of fitness. Muscle not only burns fat, but it helps us to perform daily tasks and exercise more efficiently.
Weight lifting is the best way to gain more muscle, and free weights are a great way to start out.
3. Endurance: Not only is muscular strength important, but muscular endurance is important for overall fitness as well.How long your muscles can withstand resistance and weights is essential to good health.
It helps to gauge how strong the muscles are. A good test is to see how long someone can hold a certain amount of weight, and then increase the weight in order to determine endurance levels.
Biking and step machine exercises are also good ways to improve muscle endurance.
4. Flexibility: The term flexibility refers to how well the joints work, and how well the body is able to move in a wide range of motion.
Often, gymnasts and swimmers are very flexible, but anyone can improve their flexibility with a few simple things such as stretching and yoga. This is an important part of fitness because it allows the body to keep a strong core, and prevent back pain or injury.
5. Body composition: Your body composition is basically how much fat versus muscle you have. This is often determined by figuring out someone’s BMI or Body Mass Index number.
The less fat and more muscle you have overall, the more fit you are. Remember that men tend to carry less fat than women, so getting trim and toned may take some more time if you are female.
A combination of strength training and good aerobic exercise can improve your overall body composition, ensuring your overall fitness levels.
It’s always great to have a plan! This seems to follow the 5 components of fitness, which is a great overview.