Being physically fit is more than running marathons and lifting weights every day. Sure, that’s a form of it but there’s a much bigger picture to it all. Physical wellness comes in many forms and you don’t even have to step foot in a gym to be physically fit or well. What?? Really?? Yep, I said it. There are so many more ways to be physically fit than going to the gym every day. Exercising is only a piece of the puzzle when it comes to physical wellness. There are three main components to being physically fit…
Nutrition
Have you ever heard that body transformation is 80% diet and 20% exercise? That’s no joke. I know, I know. I love ice cream more than the next person but it’s important to be aware of what you consume because it will actively affect how you feel. Eating well doesn’t mean depriving yourself of what you love, it means being mindful of what you consume. Everyone has this false idea that being healthy is eating salads and juices every day and sure, that’s one way to be healthy but it’s not the only way. Nutrition is about getting the nutrients that the body needs to be strong and healthy.
Having a balanced diet is crucial in living well because it will directly impact your long-term health. I’m not really one to be into the different diets and calorie counting. I like listening to what my body and feed it what it needs. Nutrition isn’t about weight loss or how you look. It’s about how you feel and being healthy. Eating well is an important part of physical wellness and overall health. It’ll reduce your risk of chronic diseases and impact your performance each day. You can exercise all you want but your body won’t respond the same if you aren’t eating well (most of the time, because ice cream, duh!).
Sleep
You need sleep, every single day. Your body needs time to rejuvenate from life. Think of it like a battery that needs to be charged. Without it, you begin to crash, become forgetful, and fail to function properly. Have you ever been given a task (at school, work, home, anywhere) that was a lot to work on, and then before you even finish it and take a breath, you’re handed another thing that needs to get done? It’s overwhelming when that happens and when you run for too long with no rest, your body gets overwhelmed too. Your body needs time to process all that it has gone through before being handed new things or it won’t function properly.
The average body needs 7-9 hours of sleep each night to properly recharge. Becoming sleep deprived will affect your everyday life including your memory, how you feel, your physical and mental health, and your ability to be productive. Try to get more rest so you can get more out of your days.
Physical Activity
I strongly believe in the term “physical activity” because people hear “exercise” and want to run away. Exercise can be scary, especially if you haven’t done it before but little do you know, exercise comes in so many different forms. It doesn’t have to be the typical image of the marathon runner or bench presser at the gym. You don’t even have to step foot in a gym to engage in exercise. Going for a walk, doing yoga, dancing in the living room, going on a bike ride, swimming, etc. are all forms of exercise/physical activity.
Physical activity allows for your body to release built-up tension, hormones, and emotions. It allows for the blood to get flowing throughout the body. It’ll help you sleep and function better throughout the day. Physical activity helps you become physically fit in the sense of feeling well. Find an activity you love and stick to it. There are soooo many forms of exercise and physical activity. Give new activities a try and see what you like. There are so many to choose from and just giving one a try could completely transform your life, I know it did for me!
