On Social Media, I have seen many people say about getting fit and telling people they need to be this or that. They act like they know what they’re talking about and put in all their generic opinions or textbook ideas to tell people to be fit. The thing that really hits me at times is that, they never have a definition to what being fit it. When I ask to define it, most of the time it’s complete silence and no replies. Out of maybe a few dozen times if that, only 2-3 people have ever defined it the way that is realistic and actually accurate. Other than that, it’s either complete silence or I get “being able to walk 10k steps a day”, do “X mount of push-ups” and whatever copy and pasted standardized tests that may seem good on paper but still hit a foul ball when it comes to the true aspects of fitness.
Different people define fitness usually what they’ve been taught or read about. Very few experience exercise or working out as part of a journey and not to bounce off some influencer’s arbitrary idea of where someone is in order to be considered fit. It is true that as an individual, being fit can be subjective because not everyone lives up to the same ideals and lives by the same code of a trainer or an author of best selling books. Hell, I never say one method as the end-all-be-all that is the kind of being fit. I have tried so many things in my life from weight training to gymnastics, isometrics, kettlebells, sports specific training, prehab, rehab and other things but I always broke them down to what gives me the benefits for that period of time.
In some cases, people will define fitness by the method they use and believe that’s the way to be fit because it will solve all of life’s problems; do burpees everyday, lift weights 3-4x a week, do cardio after weights, do 100 push-ups before breakfast, 500 Squats within this period of time. See how all are different or at times intertwine with each other? It’s selective through sometimes fixed or manipulated efforts to control the narrative of what it means to be fit. Some will say Yoga is better than weights or that the Bench Press is a better indicator of upper body strength than a Pull-up or whatever other compound movement. Says who? Certain tests change as time goes on kind of like the science that is constantly evolving or in some cases, loses common sense in order to trust it more than trusting yourself.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in scientific aspects of fitness and some of the growth it has accumulated but I don’t put 100% of my trust in it because I’m also an individualist who practices what gives a person their best chance that isn’t always meant for the other person. Growth also comes from experience, the mistakes, the accomplishments, where you were and where you are now. Things change and fitness for better or for worse doesn’t always cater to individuality, it caters to in many ways what is popular and profitable in comparison to changing a person’s life that creates real success not always through the exterior but internally, psychologically and where their path leads.
What is the true definition of what it means to be fit? The truth isn’t always in black and white, you have to think of the gray areas as well and understand that it’s not about this, that or the other thing. My idea based on experience, perspective and my own journey…..
Being fit is the practice of being capable. To do things that carry over to aspects of life beyond the equipment, the rep/set schemes and the protocols of various methods. You don’t have to look like a Greek God in order to be fit, some of the fittest LOOKING people on the planet aren’t as fit as they appear and those who don’t always fit the standard of a beautiful physique are often overlooked. You can do all the squats, the lifts, the HIIT classes and Pilates you want but if you get injured quicker, don’t have the stamina or strength that lasts as long as needed outside the gym or a sport and putting what you believe to look good instead of strengthening the organs that keep you alive, your fitness acts more of a facade than the realistic outlook.
Looking good has its perks. There’s nothing wrong with it in and of itself but if it’s overprioritized and used in a manner that doesn’t balance out being able to maintain certain things, all that will do is bite you in the ass and create heartache. Fitness is more about being able to do things and continue to evolve or adapt once the peak physique can’t stay at a high level anymore. Now, if you have the ability to look like a million bucks but also have the condition that benefits real life situations, that’s awesome and can be a lethal combo. Very few people in the world achieve this and it’s not in the realm of impossibility but it is important to be realistic of what is achievable for you and not what someone else forces you to believe to make money off of you. That’s the nature of the beast sometimes and the best thing we can do is to so what’s possible in the moment, not push or force what could be a decade from now.
What does being fit mean to you? It’s not as easy to answer as you may think so set your mind to meditate on what is believable and real according to your own understanding and experience. I would love to know what you come up with.
Until then, be amazingly awesome. Be mindful and remember that even the smallest fraction of progress still leads to the big picture.
