Why Fitness Isn't Just About Your Physical Body
Fitness can be quite a misleading word. After all, most people think of it as just applying to the body. Fitness means being physically fit, having a low resting heart rate, being able to go for a 10k run without breaking a sweat, etc. It’s not usually thought of in any other means - but it should be!
Because fitness is more than just about your physical body. It’s a word that can be applied holistically to your full self. Fitness isn’t just a way to measure how easy you find working out; there are so many other elements that go into it!
And that’s what we’re here to break down. Fitness is more than just what you see on the scales or the pulse monitor on your wrist. It’s all of the things below and more! And if you’ve been needing to have a rethink about fitness lately, check them out.
You’ll Likely Be a Lot Less Sedentary
A sedentary lifestyle is much more of the rage these days. A lot of people work at desks, doing both 9 to 5s and 5 to 9s, and that’s not all that healthy in the long run. In the same way you shouldn’t try to run marathons 24/7, you shouldn’t be sitting down for all that time either.
And in truth, a sedentary lifestyle is often a lot less satisfying as well. If you don’t really get up for much other than refilling your coffee, and you don’t get to do many things outside of work, you’re going to have far less ticked off of your bucket list!
That’s one great way in which committing to fitness works on more than just your physical body. When you get up and move, you actually do get up and move!
You’ll Have More Energy
When you try to stay fit, you’re likely to have a lot more energy as time goes on. It’s never a quick thing - you won’t feel all that more energetic after only a week of working out - but it will happen eventually.
And you might not even notice it to begin with. But all of a sudden you can walk longer distances without feeling your legs start to complain.
Similarly, you’ll start to find it’s easier to beat off the after work nap you’re used to having. You’re just not as tired as you used to be!
And that’s all because you’ve made the time to try a bit of fitness. On top of this, it’s key to remember that energy is both mental and physical. Over time, you might just find there’s a little less brain fog floating around as well.
You Can Make a Lot of New Connections
There’s quite a good social element to staying fit. You’re out and about more often, so more likely to see people. Even when you’re going for a run through the park or you’re doing the lanes at the local swimming pool, there’s going to be other people around for you to say hello to.
And that’s incredibly good for human beings! A bit more social interaction, even with strangers, goes a long way to reminding us we’re never quite as alone as we might feel. There’s always going to be someone out there you can talk to.
You can even form some proper, long term connections by showing up to a fitness class on a regular basis. Find out where programs like weight loss workouts near me are being run and put your name down for the sessions!
You can find a new workout partner, someone to grab a coffee with on a weekly basis, or someone who genuinely becomes a very close friend.
You Can Get Better Sleep
Sleep is kind of glorious, isn’t it? Lay your head down on the pillow, get all cozy and snuggled up under your blankets, and drift off into a dream world. It’s simply a lovely way to end the day!
But when you spend time on fitness throughout the day, the sleep you get at the end of it is probably going to be ten times better as well.
Putting time into fitness elements like regular cardio and stretching activities (like Yoga) make it far easier to get a good night’s sleep. Not only will you find it easier to sleep (as you’re likely more tired), but you’ll also get a higher quality sleep too.
Sleep is where you heal, so your muscles will always find it far easier to relax when they’ve had a good work out. And on top of that, the more regular your fitness schedule is, the more regular your sleep schedule will become too.
You’ll Feel Better within Yourself
When you bring your brain and body into alignment with each other, you can target them at the same time with the same activities. And this is the main way in which fitness is more than the physical side of your wellness.
Your brain benefits from a workout in the same way all of your other muscles do - the after effect is just a bit more complicated!
It’s not just the endorphins that come out, or the neurotransmitters that bulk up in greater amounts. It’s the way you use your energy, and how you respond to your brain’s ability to hold tension and stress in other areas of the body.
Fitness is More Than Just Physicality
It’s you - all of you! The way you think and feel, the way you sleep and eat, and the way you go about life. All in all, fitness shouldn’t only revolve around what you see in the mirror. Make sure it incorporates all of these other things that make you you!
And it’s OK to be less fit than you think you should be; that’s not something to feel ashamed of or beat yourself up about it. If you want to make a change, set yourself some goals around the elements above and then go for them!
