Can you find the balance to be truly fit?

  • Published
  • By the Health and Wellness Center
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam --  Are you fit? Being "fit" means different things to different people. 

A long-distance runner believes he is fit because he can run long distances without stopping, and he isn't very concerned about his lack of muscle mass or strength. A power lifter, on the other hand, believes he is fit because he can lift heavy weights, has explosive strength and his lack of aerobic capacity means little to him. 

However, to be truly fit, you need to properly balance strength, power, endurance and flexibility. In everyday life, all of your muscles work together to complete a specific task, and the fitter you are, the easier that task will be. 

Being fit in one aspect of physical activity, whether it is strength or endurance, is simply not enough to be truly functional. You can't be truly fit unless your muscles are functional.
For example, a marathon runner has more than enough conditioning to run up 10 flights of stairs but will not be capable of achieving that task while wearing 60 pounds of firefighting gear as firefighters around the world routinely do. A power lifter has more than enough strength to carry that gear, but will experience significant cardio respiratory limitations before reaching the top of those stairs. 

You may ask yourself, "Why do I need to do well in all areas if all I want to do is run or lift?" 

The short answer is you never know what situation you may face from day to day or what task you may be asked to undertake. 

If you had to sprint 100 yards while carrying an 80-pound combat load to save your life or a fellow Airman, could you do it? 

This holds true in everyday life also. If you had to sprint to catch the last bus out of the station while carrying two 50-pound suitcases, could you do it, or would you be spending the night at the bus station? And finally, could you defend yourself in a violent situation, one that you may not be able to run away from? 

Being fit means you can perform well in all situations that come your way, whether it is in an emergency situation, combat, passing your PT test or everyday life.