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What is "fit", to you?
WandRsmom
Posts: 253 Member
in Debate Club
This may not need to be in the debate section but I wasn't sure where to put it.
I am just curious If there is an image of a "fit" person that you have, for yourself or in general. Like is your idea of fit based on a specific fitness goal, a specific physique, or BMI ?
Did you have a vision of what it meant to be "fit " at one time and it's changed for whatever reason?
Would love to see people's thoughts.
I am just curious If there is an image of a "fit" person that you have, for yourself or in general. Like is your idea of fit based on a specific fitness goal, a specific physique, or BMI ?
Did you have a vision of what it meant to be "fit " at one time and it's changed for whatever reason?
Would love to see people's thoughts.
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Replies
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My definition of me being fit is going to be completely meaningless to everyone but me and a yogini friend, but it's to be able to do my Om Namah Shivaya Inna Gadda Divida yoga routine regularly without hurting myself
It takes cardiovascular fitness and upper body strength that I had when I was a full time yoga teacher and worked out regularly. I was also 40 pounds lighter back then.9 -
kshama2001 wrote: »My definition of me being fit is going to be completely meaningless to everyone but me and a yogini friend, but it's to be able to do my Om Namah Shivaya Inna Gadda Divida yoga routine regularly without hurting myself
It takes cardiovascular fitness and upper body strength that I had when I was a full time yoga teacher and worked out regularly. I was also 40 pounds lighter back then.
This fantastic! This exactly the kind of answer I was hoping for, *because* it's personal to you.
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ooooooo, I really like this question.... I feel like i classify "fit" and "healthy" differently. I think being fit is more tied into performance and aesthetic. For example, being a body builder, powerlifter, professional hockey player. All these guys and gals would have excellent performance and physiques but the starvation that a body build experiences is NOT healthy. The stress on athletes and powerlifters body's is not considered healthy. I think that health is more about conducting exercise in a way that encourages good motion, cardiovascular strength and a well balanced diet. My thoughts are very jumbled up on the topic.2
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I agree with this definition: Physical fitness is a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities. Physical fitness is generally achieved through proper nutrition, moderate-vigorous physical exercise, and sufficient rest.5
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I agree with this definition: Physical fitness is a state of health and well-being and, more specifically, the ability to perform aspects of sports, occupations and daily activities. Physical fitness is generally achieved through proper nutrition, moderate-vigorous physical exercise, and sufficient rest.
I pretty much agree with this definition. I don't necessarily take BMI or aesthetics into account in regards to fitness...I know many people who are a healthy BMI, but aren't really particularly healthy and aren't really active and thus not really physically fit...that said, I would typically agree that someone who is physically fit and active is also likely to be at a healthy BMI or maybe just slightly over depending on how much muscle they carry. As far as aesthetics and physiques go...I kinda hang around a bunch of cyclists and runners...they're all very physically fit, but aesthetics isn't really a part of their game. The more elite level cyclists I know are downright skinny because excess weight, either fat or muscle, is detrimental to their performance.
To that end, I think their is some distinction between all around fit and "specialized" fit. Growing up I was a competitive track and field sprinter and jumper from about 3rd grade through high school. I was fit, but also highly specialized to be really good at a few things...basically the 100m, 200m, and long jump. At one point in time...and briefly, I was ranked third in the state in the 100m...I could burn that thing down...but ask me to run a mile or more and I was completely gassed. I was no aesthetic specimen in high school either...for one, high school awkwardness...but I also had kind of a funky physique in that my lower body was bigger and much more powerful, and I was pretty small up top. I lifted as part of my training, but it was mostly Olympic type lifts that emphasized power and explosiveness more than lifting a lot of weight or putting on muscle mass.
TL/DR: As a middle ager, I look more at all around fitness...am I all around capable and healthy from a cardiovascular standpoint, and am I functionally strong...and I am a little vain, so decent aesthetics is a nice bonus. I really kind of hit my middle age apex of that back in 2016 and 2017 and I'm trying to get back there. I was just looking at a picture of my trainer and I on the beach in Cartagena, Colombia from back in 2016 and I looked fantastic and I was lifting regularly and cycling a ton. That picture must have just been the right light too, because while not popping, and had some visible definition in my abs, which I didn't realize at the time. I also took a stress test with a cardiologist that year and blew it out of the water. 2020 has not been kind to me, so I'm working my way back.5 -
I exercise for fun2
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Fit does have a certain aesthetic component to me, but it's pretty varied. Mostly it has to do with performance, both athletic and functional. One could look great but if one gets winded walking up a few flights of stairs, then one isn't really fit. But of course one could be fit in the context of one activity (I'm back in running shape) but not be fit at something else. It really depends on context what I would mean by the term.2
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I think it is most important is to be "reasonably fit," which just means you can do a range of normal activities with relative ease, such as taking a walk perhaps up a modest hill, riding a bike, carrying your groceries in from the car, that sort of thing.
Levels of fitness above that are not required, but can be achieved subject to personal preference-- basically how much time you want to invest in training for them. But, there are many things to focus on in life, and achieving a high-level of fitness is only one of them.2 -
For me 'fit' means having good cardiovascular fitness and having a fair amount of (functional) strength.
Being able to lift fairly heavy boxes when moving house, doing several flights of stairs without getting winded, stuff like that.
I don't really have a specific physique in mind with that (looks can be deceiving), but I'd associate it more with people of an 'average' build (healthy bodyfat level, not too low, and slightly more than average muscle mass).4 -
I think there are different kinds of "fit," with being physically fit just one component. One can be what many would consider "physically fit," but me a mess emotionally.
As far as being physically fit, I think of it as 2 categories: functionally fit, and aesthetically or "train smart/hard for several years" fit. Within that, as within anything else, there are varying degrees. I'd consider myself functionally fit for the most part: I'm strong enough to complete things I need to do like lift heavy objects and walk up a couple of flights of stairs without getting winded and walk several blocks easily. However, I have some chronic aches/pains that even sometimes make ADL's a bit more difficult, despite working out/strength training regularly.
Aesthetically fit to me is someone who "looks" strong: muscularly defined, can lift really heavy, etc.
This got me thinking to an article I read a few years ago about the exercises you should be able to do if you think you are "really fit," and I could (and still can) only do a few. I had to look it up and see if I could find it (I did), and here they are:
1. L-Sit
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Push Up
4. Pistol Squat
5. Candlestick Roll
6. Handstand
https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/best-bodyweight-exercises-strength?ref=quuu&utm_campaign=buffer&utm_content=buffer4d044&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com
I STILL cannot do an L-sit or full range unsupported Pistol Squat.2 -
Speakeasy76 wrote: »I think there are different kinds of "fit," with being physically fit just one component. One can be what many would consider "physically fit," but me a mess emotionally.
As far as being physically fit, I think of it as 2 categories: functionally fit, and aesthetically or "train smart/hard for several years" fit. Within that, as within anything else, there are varying degrees. I'd consider myself functionally fit for the most part: I'm strong enough to complete things I need to do like lift heavy objects and walk up a couple of flights of stairs without getting winded and walk several blocks easily. However, I have some chronic aches/pains that even sometimes make ADL's a bit more difficult, despite working out/strength training regularly.
Aesthetically fit to me is someone who "looks" strong: muscularly defined, can lift really heavy, etc.
This got me thinking to an article I read a few years ago about the exercises you should be able to do if you think you are "really fit," and I could (and still can) only do a few. I had to look it up and see if I could find it (I did), and here they are:
1. L-Sit
2. Windshield Wipers
3. Push Up
4. Pistol Squat
5. Candlestick Roll
6. Handstand
https://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/best-bodyweight-exercises-strength?ref=quuu&utm_campaign=buffer&utm_content=buffer4d044&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com
I STILL cannot do an L-sit or full range unsupported Pistol Squat.
Love this! Thank you for sharing. I cannot do a handstand. I mean.. tbh I won't really try. I can do them against a wall with someone spotting me, but my fear really kicks in at the idea of just doing an unassisted handstand 😱😱😱. Nope. No way. 😂And my L sit is unreliable at best. (I have done it a couple times but failed trying more often than not, like 8 times out if ten I am not getting it done.)2 -
For me 'fit' means having good cardiovascular fitness and having a fair amount of (functional) strength.
Being able to lift fairly heavy boxes when moving house, doing several flights of stairs without getting winded, stuff like that.
Realistically, that would be my notion of "fit" also. Being able to pick up that 33 lb bag of dog kibble or the 20 kg bag of traction sand easily. Having a personal level of fitness that allows me to accomplish the tasks I need to.
Long before I joined MFP I bought some rolls of sod to fill in some areas of the lawn and loading/unloading/carrying those things was a struggle. A few years after I got into weightlifting I bought some more rolls of sod and the difference in the way I was able to handle them told me that I was much "fitter" than the last time I played landscaper.1 -
I think the term ‘fit’ for me has definitely changed over the years. When I was younger I would have probably said someone who was muscly or toned without really thinking about anything else like diet or if they could run a 5km run. I think now I’m older (40) for me to class myself as fit I would need to eat a healthy nutritious diet, be toned and strong but able to cope cardiovascular wise too.
I’m a postie and thought I was doing fairly well before this job but now walking 10 miles on average a day carrying a bag between 8-11kg has definitely made me realise I wasn’t and also I gained weight but lost inches so I would never consider BMI anymore rather just look in the mirror0 -
Last time I said "I need to get in shape" (and yes, round is a shape but not the one I'd want one to carry) because I could not do something, for example run 1/3 of a mile, that was when I was not fit. So I worked on getting fit until I could run 20+ miles and to me that was being fit. Yes, it's definitely personal like asking someone what it means to be smart or kind or funny...1
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So. I posted this and didn't answer. I like so many of these replies and agree with them.
For me personally my idea of fit, *for myself* has changed over the yrs. I grew up (born in 79) believing i was *too large * to be fit for a woman. I was not overweight just what ppl called " broad shouldered , tall "... " Built like a linebacker" (direct quotes said to me basically from birth). And at that time women were to be Kate Moss thin. They weren't meant to be so "large"
So I equated fit with, smaller. Smaller than I was, for certain.
I did eventually become obese. And my goal when I started to get healthier was about weight loss, get smaller. That was it. I did. In fact "get smaller" bout 100lbs smaller. But I didn't feel, fit. Until I started lifting heavy. And then I saw muscle gains and I saw all the things I could do with that "larger body". Suddenly I was feeling strong and energetic. I ran a half marathon, I have lifted so much more than I ever thought I could. I look pretty good, too. But not small.
So the definition of the word for me has kinda changed over the years. That doesn't mean I put that on others, at all. I don't care about how strong or muscular other ppl are. I like all the responses here, actually.
And I don't think I will need to keep a certain amount of muscle to feel fit forever, either. I think it's more about being free of previous pressures I put on myself to look a certain way. That alone has me mentally fit.
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It can be subjective. Sometimes people see fit as people who have great bodies. Or someone who can run a marathon. But those with great bodies may not be able to do a mile run in under 8 minutes, or a marathoner may not be able to bench press 50lbs. So it may be from who you ask.
One thing is for sure though. It's a usually a physical aspect of something. Whether it be a sport, a physical hobby (like rock climbing), MMA, etc., "fit" will be dependent on how it's viewed in that category.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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To me, "fit" isn't standalone, it's "fit for a purpose".
For me, at this age & stage, it's mostly about having enough strength, cardiovascular capability, and clear cognition to stay independent and do what I need to do to live alone with a home/yard, do the active things I find fun at an adequate level (not just rowing, biking, or whatever, but things like walking around all day at an art or music festival, being able to eat/drink special treats without being limited by avoidable health conditions, and that sort of thing), etc.
I'm prejudiced against the levels of "fitness", in those senses, that seem to be seen as what I should aspire to as a 65-year-old woman. I can accept that disabilities can come with limitations, and that age makes certain disabilities statistically more likely to occur, but age per se is not a disability. Too many of my age-mate friends accept a level of decline that's unpalatable to me. I value many of those folks as friends and human beings, but I aspire to be stronger and more active than some of them seem to think is "normal".
Maybe that's arrogant. I dunno.11 -
I'm prejudiced against the levels of "fitness", in those senses, that seem to be seen as what I should aspire to as a 65-year-old woman. I can accept that disabilities can come with limitations, and that age makes certain disabilities statistically more likely to occur, but age per se is not a disability. Too many of my age-mate friends accept a level of decline that's unpalatable to me. I value many of those folks as friends and human beings, but I aspire to be stronger and more active than some of them seem to think is "normal".
Maybe that's arrogant. I dunno.
I don't think that's arrogant.
What I've observed in older individuals follows the old "use it or lose it" adage. For the ones who accepted increasing limitations as a natural part of ageing (and not as a result of illness or injury), it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. The less they did, the less they were capable of. The ones who seemed to forget their age and just kept on doing what they did retained those abilities.
One of the most inspiring women, for me, was my neighbour when I first moved into this house 13 years ago. She told me she was 85. She lived alone in a three bedroom bungalow and did all the normal yard maintenance herself. She would always come over and chat with me to keep me company while I was shovelling my driveway because she'd already finished shovelling her own. That was not a woman who believed that age automatically came with limitations.10 -
Excellent thread, @WandRsmom and great answers. I always like hearing from @AnnPT77 and @ninerbuff, who have different, but both very interesting, points of view. What is great about the discussion is that, before investing a lot of time and effort in achieving something, you think carefully about what it is you want to achieve. In the area of fitness, that just means that you set some sort of reasonable goal.
(BTW: Some goals are less useful than others. I have seen several people set the goal of "seeing their abs" because that's what celebrities often look like. Everyone must know that, when your livelihood depends on it, you may take steps that are quite unnecessary, like having lipo, etc.)1 -
There's a guy in our gym who seems to be pretty fit but ALWAYS does this balance ball exercise. First he'll get on a balance ball and stand on it. Then he'll put it on top of a box job (24") and continue till he's on the highest box jump. I have asked him why he does it and response was for core strength. What's the actual application that this can be used for? No idea.Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Excellent thread, @WandRsmom and great answers. I always like hearing from @AnnPT77 and @ninerbuff, who have different, but both very interesting, points of view. What is great about the discussion is that, before investing a lot of time and effort in achieving something, you think carefully about what it is you want to achieve. In the area of fitness, that just means that you set some sort of reasonable goal.
(BTW: Some goals are less useful than others. I have seen several people set the goal of "seeing their abs" because that's what celebrities often look like. Everyone must know that, when your livelihood depends on it, you may take steps that are quite unnecessary, like having lipo, etc.)
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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There's a guy in our gym who seems to be pretty fit but ALWAYS does this balance ball exercise. First he'll get on a balance ball and stand on it. Then he'll put it on top of a box job (24") and continue till he's on the highest box jump. I have asked him why he does it and response was for core strength. What's the actual application that this can be used for? No idea.Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Excellent thread, @WandRsmom and great answers. I always like hearing from @AnnPT77 and @ninerbuff, who have different, but both very interesting, points of view. What is great about the discussion is that, before investing a lot of time and effort in achieving something, you think carefully about what it is you want to achieve. In the area of fitness, that just means that you set some sort of reasonable goal.
(BTW: Some goals are less useful than others. I have seen several people set the goal of "seeing their abs" because that's what celebrities often look like. Everyone must know that, when your livelihood depends on it, you may take steps that are quite unnecessary, like having lipo, etc.)
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
I knew someone - with access to excellent coaches, BTW - who trained himself to stand on a stability ball to help improve ability to balance a single racing shell (rowing). (Those little suckers are tippy: Usually around 26 feet long, about 12 inches wide at the waterline; many won't sit upright in the water without oars in them.)
Given his personality, I think it may also have been a bit of a personal challenge thing, and also a bit of a stunt. I don't know about the boxes, though.0 -
There's a guy in our gym who seems to be pretty fit but ALWAYS does this balance ball exercise. First he'll get on a balance ball and stand on it. Then he'll put it on top of a box job (24") and continue till he's on the highest box jump. I have asked him why he does it and response was for core strength. What's the actual application that this can be used for? No idea.Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Excellent thread, @WandRsmom and great answers. I always like hearing from @AnnPT77 and @ninerbuff, who have different, but both very interesting, points of view. What is great about the discussion is that, before investing a lot of time and effort in achieving something, you think carefully about what it is you want to achieve. In the area of fitness, that just means that you set some sort of reasonable goal.
(BTW: Some goals are less useful than others. I have seen several people set the goal of "seeing their abs" because that's what celebrities often look like. Everyone must know that, when your livelihood depends on it, you may take steps that are quite unnecessary, like having lipo, etc.)
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Wow. That's a first I have heard of this. Interesting.0 -
There's a guy in our gym who seems to be pretty fit but ALWAYS does this balance ball exercise. First he'll get on a balance ball and stand on it. Then he'll put it on top of a box job (24") and continue till he's on the highest box jump. I have asked him why he does it and response was for core strength. What's the actual application that this can be used for? No idea.Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »Excellent thread, @WandRsmom and great answers. I always like hearing from @AnnPT77 and @ninerbuff, who have different, but both very interesting, points of view. What is great about the discussion is that, before investing a lot of time and effort in achieving something, you think carefully about what it is you want to achieve. In the area of fitness, that just means that you set some sort of reasonable goal.
(BTW: Some goals are less useful than others. I have seen several people set the goal of "seeing their abs" because that's what celebrities often look like. Everyone must know that, when your livelihood depends on it, you may take steps that are quite unnecessary, like having lipo, etc.)
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
Fit for doing stunts for social media!
So the end goal I suppose in those cases would be likes?1 -
I'm not sure if it's a great benchmark of fitness, but this is something my husband told me after I lost weight, and it stuck with me...
We were on a hike, and slogged up a particularly steep set of switchbacks. At the top, we were both out of breath and needed to stop.
Once I could talk, I said, "I thought we were in better shape than this!" He said, "You can be really fit and still get out of breath...it's more about your recovery time." Within 30 seconds of stopping, we were both breathing normally and ready to move again.
It could be BS, but for me, I pay attention to how long it takes me to go from totally out of breath, unable to talk...to recovered and ready to press on.12 -
If I can do this some day I will consider myself fit
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SunnyBunBun79 wrote: »If I can do this some day I will consider myself fit
Oh, you will be able to do it. But the practicing before you get it right is going to KILL you.4 -
SunnyBunBun79 wrote: »If I can do this some day I will consider myself fit
Oh, you will be able to do it. But the practicing before you get it right is going to KILL you.
Hahaha!2 -
My answer is partly in my user name -- FitAgain.... I was in the best shape of my life in my late 40s and my goal is to get back there again. That's partly objectively measured by weight, physical abilities and body shape. But that is really my short term goal.
My much longer and deeper goal is to be fit enough to be active with my kids and grandkids later in life when I'm in my 70s and 80s. I put this in another thread but I'll repeat here.
My Mom is 80 years old, has been overweight/obese for 50 years and now has diabetes, heart disease and can only walk via a walker. My daughter was the first person in my direct lineage to graduate from college and my parents were in too poor health to travel to be there. Even though my daughter wouldn't say it, I know that hurt.
So while my short term goal is very superficial, my long term fitness goal is to be able to go hiking with my grandkids when I'm in my 70s.
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Jumping on.
I would consider my self incredibly fit. I can run over 15km easily, I can lift weights and run around after my kids.
I'm also currently over weight and would like to lose around 20lb to be a bit healthier as I get older. That said, according to health numbers (cholesterol, BP, HR etc) I'm very healthy, nothing to worry about. May that continue.
ETA my aspiration is my team leader. She is 76, yet she has the ability and attitude of someone in their 30s. She works in a busy xray department, goes walking, on trips, etc. She is young at hear as well as able to do everything she wants still. She is retiring at the end of March and I'm going to miss her energy and enthusiasm a lot.
Id like to be like her!
Oh and my other role model, my old boss who at 73 still runs half marathons.1 -
For me it boils down to feeling good in my own body and being able to enjoy daily activities and the joy of movement.
Broken down this more or less equates to;
-Cardiovascular health: both for the biomechanics and for the benefits of endurance
- joint health: cause age + all the crap I put my body thru ages 13 -28
- Muscular health/agility: being strong and flexible enough to do what I enjoy rather than watch wistfully from the sidelines
- Mental and emotional well being: for me this is very strongly connected to feeling strong and safe in my body
- SLEEP hygiene: this is the one I struggle with the most 😕3
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