The Definition of Fitness

When someone says the word “fitness”, what comes to mind? Perhaps a lean, athletic individual who just ran a marathon or a group of women taking a kickboxing class at the gym. Whatever you think of, the definition of fitness probably encompasses it in some way. But, how many of us really understand the definition of fitness and what it means to “be fit”?

Depending on where you look, you will get a different definition of fitness.

“Good physical condition; being in shape or in condition.” -Princeton WordNet

“The cultivation of an attractive and healthy physique.” -Wiktionary

“Capability of the body of distributing inhaled oxygen to muscle tissue during increased physical effort.”     -Dictionary.com

“Ability of the human body to function with vigor and alertness, without undue fatigue, and with ample energy to engage in leisure activities, and to meet physical stresses.” -Encarta

So, what do all of these definitions mean? Well, looking at these definitions it is obvious that the definition of fitness has a lot to do with a healthy body that functions effectively. Physical fitness is similar to a high quality vehicle. It starts when you turn the key, hums quietly and resists breakdowns.

Similar to a vehicle, our bodies require maintenance to stay aligned with this definition of fitness. In order for our bodies to stay fit and run efficiently we must take care of them. Putting in the right fuels and not allowing our bodies to stay dormant for extended periods all lead to good physical fitness. When we are conscious of keeping our bodies in good working condition, we are encouraging fitness.

From eating to using our bodies and muscles to move and work we are constantly either encouraging or discouraging fitness within ourselves. With every action we make a decision, whether conscious or not, to be closer to that textbook definition of fitness or to stray further from it. Similar to that car, however, the longer we neglect our body and the upkeep required, the less time we will have to work with it.