"Fitness" declassified

    Ive heard about it multiple times. There are variations of it but they all come from a myth i do not know who invented it. "I go to the gym not to lift weights, but for fitness like walking on the treadmill or cycle on the stationery bike". This variation i just mentioned is a paraphrased version of mine to make the line sound smarter. Trust me, you do not want to know the exact line. This shows that people do not even have a basic grasp of fitness.

    In the Oxford Dictionary, fitness (noun) is defined as the condition of being phisically fit and healthy. The other definition, also under the same dictionary defines fitness as the quality of being suitable to fulfil a particular role or task.

    By way of the first definition, people always think that being able to run 10 miles non stop is the benchmark of fitness and health. based on their logic endurance trumps power, strength, and other qualities. wouldnt being able to squat. Isn't having appreciable amount of muscle mass healthy?Isn't being able to sprint with perfect mechanics show you are fit?Or simply being able to pick up loaded box off the floor without rounding your back for that matter? What i am trying to say is that lifting weights has always got a bad rep. They stunt the growth, they make you slow, they are bad for your spine are among the tabloid speculations on strength training. Lifting weights burn fat, build muscle, strengthen your bones, and makes you more flexible, yes, u heard the last one right. Isn't that what everyone is after?

                                           Can you perform this functional task, injury free?

    By way of the second definition, the meaning of fitness is narrowed down to what are you trying to accomplish. For example, sprints need to sprint alot, weightlifters need to perform hours of cleans and snatches, or marathoners need to jog long distances. This also mean that if a weightlifter run 10 miles everyday he would be wasting his time as he is not building his fitness towards his sport. Thus being unfit for his sport.

                                 This guy does not have to jog long distances, nor does he want to

                                    Trust me, you do not get to look like this with only jogging

   For the non athlete, you might be interested either to lose fat, build muscle, build strength, or simply being healthy. So do not confine yourself to the illusion that jogging is the only way to be awesome. Unless you are training for a marathon or a specific sport you can always be fit and healthy by lifting weights, running sprints, or paying sports. I have nothing against jogging as seriously it is better than how an average Malaysian spends his evening. But just know what you want and how to achieve it.