5 Components of Physical Fitness
Understanding the 5 components of physical fitness is key for maximizing your personal health and fitness. Physical fitness is defined by most as the ability to function effectively and efficiently while doing day to day operations without limitations or fatigue. Most think of physical fitness as being able to walk or run a long distance or lift a certain amout of weight during strength training.
What they don't know if that there are so many components of physical fitness to be considered fit. We need to focus on each of these in order to function at our best now and in the future.
There are 5 components of physical fitness include:
Cardiovascular Fitness: includes the efficiency of the heart (cardio) and the blood vessels (vascular) system to work efficiently during exercise. If we are cardiovascularly fit, our body's ability to properly transport oxygen to the muscles during physical activity. Aerobic exercise is the only way to improve your body's ability to improve your cardiovascular fitness levels. Exercise recommendations for improving cardiovascular fitness levels.
Muscular Strength: is definted as a muscle's ability to generate force against physical objects. It typically refers to how much weight you can lift for different strength training exercises. Strength or resistance training is the best way to increase your muscular endurance. You do not have to lift heavy weights to improve your muscular strength but rather be sure that you do include a few days a week of strength training.
Muscular Endurance: is very important in order for our muscles to perform over a length of time. Muscular endurance is really important for people who must perform exercise for longer bouts of time including cross country, hockey players, or hockey. The most effective way to improve muscular endurance is to incorporate both anerobic and aerobic exercise into your physical fitness plan.
Flexibility: is probably the most overlooked aspect of the 5 components of physical fitness as most do not see the value in it. Flexibility is our muscles abilities to lengthen and stretch and is very important to reduce injury and have long, lean muscles. Yoga and stretching are the best exercises you can do to improve your flexibility levels. Be sure properly stretch following the conclusion of your workout regimine often.
Body Composition: is the ratio of lean muscle mass to body fat in the body. The most common way that people determine their body composition is through body-mass-index. It is not the most accruate but widely used to give people an idea of their total body fat. Aerobic exercise, healthy eating, and resistance is the best way to lose weight and lose body fat.
Focusing on each and every one of the above 5 components of physical fitness and not just on one or two of them will ensure that you are doing what you can to stay physically fit.
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