When I say the word fitness - What does it mean to you? To many people it means getting into shape. Added to the end is usually the word AGAIN. Implying being in shape is something they were but aren’t now. Usually this is a vague memory of younger days and most of us were never as good as we remember.  The people who say these things are usually men.  Women talk about their size and what they could wear.  They are the most honest because they will tell you they want to look like they used to look.  They have an objective measure also - the old clothes still in their closet that used to fit!

Fitness is a measure of athletic ability or for occasional athletes or non-athletes it is a measure of our ability to do our work and have fun and remain healthy. The fit individual will live longer and have more usable life than the unfit one.  Fitness is relative to need. What being fit can do for you is prevent you from falling, allow you to be more active for more hours. One on my patients was motivated to lose weight and become more fit when at under 50 years old she had to use a wheel chair when visiting Disney World in Florida. The walking and standing all day in the Florida sunshine was more than she could do at the pace of other family members.  Being able to walk all day, play games, do your yard work, maintain your balance, move your furniture, clean your windows and not be sore for days after such activities is a goal to be sought and maintained.

One of the things I can still do at age 58 is stand on one foot without leaning, pull off my work boots and socks and put on indoor shoes after doing yard work. Can you put on or take off your socks and shoes while standing?  Can you put on your pants while standing? Can you tie your shoes? One of my morbidly obese patients was telling me about how he often is told by people his shoe is untied.  He says it is such an effort to tie them that he won’t unless he can find a place to do so unobserved.

What are your reasons for being fit? How do you define fitness? What exercises and equipment do you find most important to maintain your fitness?

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