How Fit Are You Really?

The body's ability to function with vigor and alertness is how fitness level is measured. Nutrition is how the body is nurtured while exercise is the exertion of the body to keep physically toned. When we provide ourselves with the necessary food, vitamins, minerals, and exercise it needs, it will thrive through its daily process. But how do you tell if you're really fit?

First, consider your exercise habits (or lack thereof). No exercise means no fitness, some exercise equals some fitness, good exercise means good fitness. No matter your age, you'll benefit from exercise. It keeps our bodies and minds in condition, burning calories and energizing our cells.

Now consider your caloric intake. Do you take in more than your body needs? How about vitamin supplements to ensure that you're getting your daily requirements? Without even basic efforts at fitness, you're definitely not a fit individual. Whether you look sick or not, inside your body is working overtime to keep itself running without the tools it needs to replenish itself.

How's your stress level during your daily life? Do you work in a high stress environment or have a stressful personal life? What kinds of activities do you do to relieve stress? Stress is the top contributor to heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiopulmonary diseases. For most adults in today's world, stress is almost out of control. Most of us are busy individuals with little free time and no time for any kind of rest or reflection.

Fitness involves more than just an exercise routine. Fitness involves all of the body's abilities to get through the day without being completely worn out from physical activity, stress, and malnutrition. Stress is the number one factor in causing the body to be unfit. Ridding ourselves of this built up stress is paramount to our fitness. Massages and exercise are the best ways to alleviate stress, along with relaxation and meditation to clear our minds.

To release stress, exercises requiring total body involvement, such as swimming, running or jogging, dancing, cycling, and similar activities are best. Even a brisk walk will make more of the body exercise, thus getting the most out of it.

There are so many reasons we use as excuses to keep from maintaining optimum health and fitness that often we ignore our obligation to do it. It is beneficial and even required for fitness and a quality life to take the time and make the effort to be fit.