Health vs Fitness; 7 Areas of Physical Health:

 

Every January we are inundated with a flood of ads for fitness programs. Space-age machines and scientific diets of every description promise to make us Fit and Healthy and Happy. And hey, who doesn’t want to get in shape and feel great, undo years of aging, drop the fat, muscle up, be lean and mean…?

 

I certainly do.

 

But there are a couple of problems with all this.

 

For one thing we usually have a terrible time staying with the program or using the equipment for the long haul. We are all gung-ho for a few weeks, but then lose interest, slack off, and within a few months are right back where we began.

 

That’s where I come in. My job is not to tell you what program to join or equipment to purchase, but to help you stay on the program of your choice for the long term.

 

Secondly, chasing getting “fit” as it is often presented completely leaves out several dimensions of genuine health, and health is more important than fitness.

 

“Fitness” has to do with muscles, cardio, and body composition (% body fat…). But genuine Health includes not only those important elements listed above, but other very important elements as well.

 

In my case, I’ve identified seven areas/dimensions of health. They are:

• DIET
• EXERCISE
• HYDRATION
• SUPPLEMENTS AND MEDICATIONS
• KINESIOLOGY (BALANCE, COORDINATION, FLEXIBILITY…)
• REST/SLEEP
• STRESS MANAGEMENT

 

If I work on only a couple of these and ignore the others, I will pay a heavy price physically, mentally, and even spiritually. Being muscled up, have 15% body fat and excellent cardio will not make up for being dehydrated, eating junk, being stiff and clumsy, exhausted and sleep-deprived, and stressed to the snapping point. I’ll be fit … and miserable.

So think about your overall health, not just your fitness and physical conditioning. Intentionally settle on a Vision, a good Plan, and the necessary SMART Goals so you can make progress and improve your overall health. Use the seven areas listed above and tailor a plan that works well for you. Consider what simple, positive changes you can make in your own diet, regular exercise, hydration, supplementation, kinesiology, sleep habits, and stress management.

 

Be sure to record all this in your journal, set up a system of tracking progress that works for you, and plan on making it sustainable over time, a matter of habit, and a part of your improved Lifestyle.

Here’s a video for you where I go into more detail.

God bless,

Let’s get HEALTHY and fit!

~Johnny