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by: Donita Riplez
Almost
everywhere you go today, you are approached in some manner about
health and physical fitness. The fact that a large percentage of
Americans are considered obese has helped increase the marketing
of diet, physical fitness, and health products. You’ll be reminded
of health and fitness on TV, in magazines, on the radio, the news,
at work, almost everywhere you go you’ll see something about physical
fitness.
With
all this commotion about fitness, have you joined the team and started
your path to total fitness? If not here is a brief description of
the standards of physical fitness and what you may do about your
current fitness level.
Most
experts agree there are five basic components of fitness. They are:
1)
Aerobic Endurance- Your level of aerobic endurance measures your
ability to do moderately strenuous activity over a period of time.
It’s a measurement of how efficiently your heart and lungs work
together to supply oxygen to your body during exertion and exercise.
This fitness component is also called aerobic fitness.
2)
Muscular Endurance- Muscular Endurance measures your fitness level
by your ability to hold a particular position for a sustained period
of time or repeat a movement many times. One example might be to
lift a five-pound weight 20 consecutive times.
3)
Muscular Strength- The ability to exert maximum force. It is possible
to have greater muscular strength in one area, than another. For
example, you may have great strength in your arms, while lacking
strength in your legs. One example might be lifting the heaviest
weight you can possibly lift.
4)
Flexibility- Flexibility fitness measures the ability to move a
joint through its full range of motion or the elasticity of the
muscle. This is how limber you are.
5)
Body Composition- This fitness area measures the proportion of fat
in your body as compared to your bone and muscle. It does not refer
to your weight in pounds or your shape.
If
you are weak in any area or need to begin a general overall fitness
plan, there are basically three areas of exercise you should concentrate
upon to make improvements. They are stretching, aerobic activity,
and strength training. Each of these areas is very important to
your overall fitness level. Eating a healthy diet will also contribute
greatly to your overall fitness level.
Remember, it is never too late to improve your fitness level. Regardless
of your physical fitness level, your age, or the length of time
it has been since you last exercised regularly, it’s never too late
to start and maintain a good fitness routine. Your body is designed
to move. If you don’t use it, you lose it. It is just that simple.
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Donita Riplez is the owner of fitness
DC which is a premier resource for fitness information. for
more information, go to http://www.fitnessdc.com
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