Technically, it’s still the beginning of the year, so many of us are still in our goal-setting phase for the quarter or the year. I thought it was appropriate, since I call this site “Fitness Over 50,” to explore exactly what is fitness. What does fitness mean to us, people who are middle-aged or perhaps older.
I did a search and, not surprisingly, there are quite a few meanings for the word. Fitness, according to Cross Fit ”comes through molding men and women that are equal parts gymnast, Olympic weightlifter, and multi-modal sprinter.” Yikes! That definition seems a bit extreme for most of us, entering this stage of life. But if you aspire to these qualities, then definitely go for it.
Physical fitness, according to MIT Medical, “Physical fitness is to the human body what fine tuning is to an engine. It enables us to perform up to our potential. Fitness can be described as a condition that helps us look, feel and do our best.” A definition like this is one I can get behind. Fitness “enables us to perform up to our potential,” so it’s different for everyone. Everyone has a different potential and, it can be argued, it’s something that we can grow and change as our lives change.
Fitness is personal
But the definition I relate to the most comes from Sharecare: Fitness is a very personal term! Fitness is having a healthy mind, body, and spirit to allow you to maximize your potential and help others maximize their potential. Your definition of fitness will be influenced by your interests, physical abilities, and goals.”
Fitness is mind, body and everything in between
To me, fitness combines every aspect of your being. From what’s on the outside to physical organs on the inside, and even to your thoughts and beliefs. Fitness is the ability to live every day with joy and meaning. Those are very personal ideas too: how one person experiences joy can be very different from another. And the meaning of my day can be as simple as playing with my dogs or as deep as writing a (hopefully) well-thought article on fitness.
So, “what is fitness?” is different for everyone, but I think there are some commonalities. Being fit is the ability to do the things you want to do when you want to do them. I exercise so that I have the independence and the mobility to do exactly that – what I want. I set goals to have a path forward. When I have a path forward, I can plan my days and be happy. I’m optimistic that I can achieve my goals, and that makes me even more resilient.
You decide what being fit is for you
Being fit may include looking and feeling good, but it’s much more than that. Everyone has their own definition of fitness, and you can use that definition to maintain your motivation. It’s what can get you up in the morning, ready to lace up your sneakers or dive into a meditation session. The fact that you are fit will help you get through tough times and look forward to the future. You know that even when things feel hard – like lifting a 30-pound weight – you can take a deep breath and do it. When you’re fit, you automatically do things for your healthy aging. It’s not even a conscious thing. When you’re fit, you move – and move forward.
