The Fitness Lifestyle

Posted on August 2, 2002 by Stephan S Little

When presented the opportunity to publish a series of articles related to improving health and fitness, I literally leapt at the chance. If everyone hears and see the same news I do, we should all have a keen and sincere interest in understanding how to establish improved levels of health and fitness and stem the tide of a crisis level epidemic of obesity and cardiac illness. The local publication is one of many mediums available for communicating to a broad audience of people who, in my opinion, should have a sincere interest in improving levels of health and fitness. After all don’t we each have a responsibility to do so? If not to ourselves, then to our children.  If not to our children then to each other and our community. If not to our community, then to our nation. If it not our responsibility, then whose is it?

My principle objective in this series is to help people understand how to take control of their lives in this regard, and empowering them to establish healthier, happier and more satisfying lives.  In order to effectively do this, I will first set the record straight on a few pervasive misconceptions.

In my practice, I frequently refer to the concept of a "Fitness Lifestyle". This reference often creates a broad range of reactions.  In some cases, people interpret this as a bigger, more challenging, change then they are interested in making.  Images of starvation, veggie burgers, carrot juice, granola cereal, and protein bars combined with hours of tedious huffing and puffing on the treadmill or exercise cycle flash through the mind, and interest is immediately lost.After all, all you really want to do is lose a little weight and tone up those inactive muscles; right?

Whether your image of my meaning resembles the misery described above, or any other image of 'fitness' requiring discomfort or pain, let me state categorically, this is not what I mean by a "Fitness Lifestyle" nor is it what I believe anyone needs.  However, with the proliferation of fad diets, the preponderance of glitzy supplement promoting health and fitness "publications", and "health" clubs that are often less interested in health and more oriented toward securing "club" memberships, I can understand how people develop these less than enthusiastic opinions & attitudes of health and fitness programs.  Everyone, it seems, has something to pitch.  I have actually had clients tell me that pursuing good health and fitness is either too difficult and complicated because of all the misinformation out there, or is too overwhelming, uncomfortable, and embarrassing because of the health & fitness club atmosphere. Can you imagine any better reasons than these to carry on living 20 to 30 lbs overweight and risking a catastrophic cardiac event of some variety; or development of diabetes or any one of a number of other life threatening diseases associated with obesity, high body fat, or poor fitness?

Fitness is most accurately defined as the measure of an individual’s ability to prevent disease through a sound preventative program incorporating 6 key behavioral factors:

  1. Good health habits (no smoking, excessive drinking, drugs, or environmental toxins)
  2. Sound nutrition
  3. Foods and supplements rich in a broad spectrum of antioxidants.
  4. Sufficient exercise to produce physical fitness equal to and exceeding the demands of your lifestyle
  5. Maintenance of a low-stress psychosocial existence
  6. Regular visits to your health care provider.

A Lifestyle is defined as, an internally consistent way living that reflects the attitudes and values of an individual.

A Fitness Lifestyle then, is established when the 6 behavioral factors of fitness become habits which reflect the positive attitude of an individual and demonstrate the value they place on their health and level of fitness.

A Fitness Lifestyle is not just about diet and exercise, weight loss, muscle mass and cardiovascular conditioning.  It does include these things, but it is more about function. That is; your ability to function the way you want to; to do the things you want to do; to be as active as you want to be; and to enjoy the pursuits and activities you are passionate about; now and in the future.  Most importantly, a Fitness Lifestyle should be a fun, rewarding, uplifting, and empowering experience

Whether you want to develop competitive athletic capacity or simply corral runaway weight related ailments, it is my sincere hope to provide useful and unambiguous suggestions that will inform you and help you accomplish your personal health and fitness objective.

Stay tuned…