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Fitness, how important is it to you?

3/29/2012

3 Comments

 
Well, do you consider yourself to be a couch potato or a stamina junky? 

What's your view and approach to fitness? 

For some, born anytime up to early or mid-70's enjoyed very active lives, from home life, school life and social life; most incorporated a considerable amount of exercise in some form or other.  The times were such that the majority of children walked or cycled to school, at worst, caught the school bus.  At school there was an active and very competitive sports curriculum which included local and national schools competitions, conducted annually.  At school you were actively encouraged to participate in the school activities, with little tolerance if you did not.  Sports within the educational setting also delivered a sense of pride and belonging with the accolades one would gain in their sporting achievements, all in displays for all to view.  If one was not academically thriving at least there was the opportunity of achievement through sporting activities and the sporting achievers usually also held a respected and high profile within their peer groups. 

Thinking back now, about eating; it was something you had to do when you were hungry and quite often to break away for lunch, dinner or tea was more of an inconvenience than anything else.  I remember always being busy so the thought of food really did not factor high in my agenda throughout my childhood and adolescence.  Well, that is how it was in my household and peer group.  Sport and activity was part of our daily existence and a quick visual scan in any social setting would view people in the weight range of underweight or idea the everyday obesity sightings of today was simple not on our landscape and in all honesty social tolerance was a very unforgiving one when confronted with people in the overweight category. 

Does an active sporting life when you are young, influence your view on fitness and health as you grow into adulthood and maturity?  Maybe not for all?  For me, most definitely yes!  Some consider a person has an additional edge to them from the familiarity of achieving - more focused and driven in many ways.  However, not for all, some people are totally driven in their own embedded sense of the need to achieve without being motivated through sport or fitness.

For me personally, the times when I have allowed myself to relax on my personal drive to achieve and my fitness drive, is when hitting life low points, losing self-motivation and purpose; so fitness, be it physical, mental, or spiritual is part of a daily lifestyle routine that I embrace and engage in.  It is easy for me to recall instantly the amazing sense of value and fulfilment when hitting that new school record in a field event, or won that netball game or topped the league in the hockey finals.  As an adult, the same jubilation applies when achieving the first 5k run, 10k run then 21k run - it's a feeling that is hard to beat and the impact on one’s mind afterwards can stay with them for a good while after.  Thinking on it now in writing this and in reflection, a trend unfolds, as the impact of achievement of a single activity wears down, a new challenge is found for renewed focus and the uplift that delivers to the high zones of adrenaline, new focus and new sense of achievement.  This has transferred itself into real life actions.  The need for new projects, new goals to set, new places to travel, new causes to help; it can be an integral part of one’s personal make-up and one that can be formed from one’s early years of achieving through activities that were within their control and abilities.

What is it for you? 

3 Comments
Julie D link
3/29/2012 04:41:45

This is a good debate and enjoyed your blog.
Well being a child of the 70s outdoor life was the norm. I grew up in a small village out all day, playing going for walks, bike rides in the lovely sunny weather.
So it was easy to keep fit. I think I used to eat a large hearty meal. Meat and two veg followed by a pudding. So we didnt diet but kept fit by an active life style. I was a member of guides. That started more oudoor pursuits, ie camping and treasure hunts. I was also a member of a swimming club.
As I got into my 20s still kept fit going out with friends dancing and was obsessed with Aerobics!! Yes I even have a pic with the leotard and leggings with leg warmers. I became a fitness junkie. In my 30s and 40s still kept fit but thats when I started jogging and walking more. I have lots of stamina and energy bursts and do lots of gardening now.I am older and still enjoy walking.
My downfall is cake, cheese and bread. Also choc in the winter. I try to eat healthy meals with not too much fat or red meat. I like.fish and salads in the summer. My winter fat usually comes off in the summer.
Its important to try and keep fit and think of your heart and liver. I could do better though.
Any tips on healthy snacks instead of w
sweet things as I am not too good with fruit.
Thanks Max enjoy your debates.

Reply
Maxine Smith
3/29/2012 06:06:39

You really were an active and no doubt a key reason to your great posture, which was one of the very first things about you that I noticed when we first met. The carbs is such a hard battle to fight for some people and I am afraid to say me too! As you know, I love cooking and baking and it is a form of pure torture for me to cook and bake and have to pass it by. You can do an internet search with the question of "why do I crave carbs" and will have an array of answers so I won't even attempt to go there. From experience one could easily put these cravings down to habits, lack of sleep and substituting healthy foods for our fancies. We really do hold our own answers. For me my biggest craving moments are in the evenings and the simply answer is I need to go to bed. I am tired, my serotonin levels are low. Instead of doing what my body is telling me to do "go to sleep" I feed myself with sugar and carbs; then I wonder why I am overcharged way beyond my bedtime and drive my husband nuts! Also out of habit, how often do we go for our treats rather than prepare a nice healthy salad or stuff a burger or fish & chips instead of steaming some lovely tasty haddock? We have all the answers to our questions about carbs, we really do. A tip regarding bread is try Crackerbread, we use it a lot instead of bread and it is so much healthier for you. Mind you I do recall at school dinner, I would often swap my main meal for a pudding and in my more recent years would often visit a restaurant and gorge a few puddings instead of a balanced meal. Well, I am one of life's great motivators for the 'Pudding Club', am I beyond hope? No, but like so many, yes, we need to resist our temptations, be focused to our goals and simply achieve them. For 2012, I have a few goals to achieve, health and fitness is one of them, not because I am not healthy or that I am unfit; infact I have never been better. It is so that I stay healthy and fit as I grow older. Don't you find with each year and certainly decade, the body goes off on another level of self destruction which presents us with new health and fitness challenges? What say you?

Reply
shirlee
3/29/2012 08:10:51

What say I ?
My Goals work for me, long Ive after giving up.
My goals need work with me, not against me
Awareness of my own values before me.
Small enough to wins everyday to refresh me..
Adding to my Satisfied Mind




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    Maxine Smith
    ​I am a family focused practising Christian. I am entrepreneurial by nature with a few business interests, ventures and projects.  Having spent many years in business, international development and third sector communities, I spend as much time as I can catching up with the more creative side of life.   I enjoy spending time reading the scriptures, cooking, gardening and travelling.  I am also a gadget nerd! I love growing my mind and challenging my perceptions.   I keep an open mind and prefer to work with strengths in people and situations.


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