Fitness and Weight-Loss

I plan to start my blogs with a topic on weight-loss and fitness because this is where it all started.

Let us first discuss the word fitness. What is fitness? Being fit is being in a state of good physical condition. It is a state wherein a person is able to do his or her daily tasks without undue fatigue or stress. What then is weight-loss? It is actually the giving up of unnecessary weight particularly body fat to achieve a more desirable figure/body, or for some people, to achieve better health because obesity is related to diseases.

There is a strong relationship between these two concepts: weight-loss and fitness. There is a lot of concern right now on weight-loss because more and more people are becoming obese. Being obese can mean that a person might not be able to do his or her daily tasks without undue fatigue or stress. Most people (I am not saying all) who are overweight tend to get tired easily, and are more prone to injuries and aches due to their body weight. Then of course for some, it is a confidence issue. Being “just the right size” adds up to one’s desirability or attractiveness. For a lot of people, this gives them enough motivation to achieve fitness.

Fitness can mean a whole lot of different things to different people. Goals vary. For some, losing just a certain number of pounds will do, some would rely on body measurements. Still some would try to achieve the body that they truly desire. Usually for men, it is the rock hard body-types and for women, the long and lean look.

That’s how it all started for me. In my early 20’s I gained a lot of weight that I couldn’t fit into my clothes anymore. Every time I went to purchase new ones, the sizes would just get bigger and bigger. I didn’t like what I saw on the mirror as well. My confidence dropped and I found it difficult to perform daily tasks with ease. This is when I decided that I had to do something about it and so I attended fitness classes. At first, I went for just three classes a week. After a while, I progressed to attending classes every single day. I was hooked and I enjoyed it. I was young and probably because of too much inactivity prior to this, my body craved for it. After a few months, I knew that I already achieved what I wanted, but I wanted more. And so I worked harder. This is just about the time when the fitness instructors at the gym offered me a teaching post. I readily accepted it and they trained me to become a fitness professional as well.

In our world today, people have this notion that they have to go to the gym or work-out to achieve weight-loss and/or fitness. It is true that fitness and weight loss can be achieved through physical exercise but it doesn't necessarily mean going to the gym or being physically exhausted from working-out, unless you really want to do it that way, or you really enjoy doing it that way. Not all people have the money and the time to spend in fitness centers. There are other ways. Outdoor fun can be one of them. If you enjoy playing any sport or any physical game, that would be a great way to achieve fitness, and lose weight in the process. You can organize your physical activities with friends, be it a game of volleyball, badminton, soccer or even just a game of tag. Achieving fitness and weight-loss, and having fun in the process is a great way to go. Still, there are some people who enjoy being alone, and running or just plain walking around the park will do. Walking is very calming and therapeutic as well. If you enjoy dancing, then dance to your heart’s desire. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to attend dance classes to achieve fitness and weight-loss unless you are into the artistic side or if you want to learn a particular type of dance (ballet, jazz, belly dancing, street-dancing, tap dancing, etc.). You can dance for about 30 minutes to an hour inside your room, or you can split it up to dancing for 10 minutes at a time for about 3-5 times a day. If you want to learn certain martial arts, that’s another great form of exercise that will help you achieve fitness and weight-loss, but it is best to practice with certified instructors in the discipline if you choose this as your path. Let us not forget the eastern forms of physical activities that not only takes care of your physical aspect but mental, emotional and spiritual as well. Under this umbrella, we have Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga and others. Still let’s not forget our favourite childhood toys, the hula hoop, the skip rope and the all-time favourite bicycle or any other toy from way back that we can use for movement.

To sum it all up, achieving weight-loss and/or fitness can be fun and exciting. It doesn’t have to be boring and you don’t even have to get really physically exhausted to achieve your goals. Choose any activity that you like doing and that you can stick to doing on a regular basis. It doesn’t have to just be a single activity either. You can choose to combine all the activities that you like doing. For example, if you feel like dancing with joy today, then do so. If tomorrow, you feel contemplative, then take a walk. If the next day, you feel like hanging out with your friends, then organize a game of football.

Another thing, watch what you eat. But that’s another story. ‘til next time...