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Well first of all here's what it's not. It's not a once every now and again thing you do after new year or before your holidays. It's not something you do just to look good, that's an added benefit of being fit. I'm not talking here about fitness for running a marathon or being an olympian (not in this post anyway), but simple functional fitness and being active enough to cope with whatever life throws your way.

Put simply, being fit means being physically able to do what needs to be done in your world without feeling knackered 2 minutes into doing it!

Lets get slightly technical for a moment. The components of fitness include stamina, muscular strength and endurance, flexibility and body composition. Include coordination, balance and mental attitude and you have an overall view of functional fitness.

• What is stamina? The ability of the heart and lungs to work efficiently in order to supply the body with enough fuel for prolonged activity.

• What is muscular strength? The ability of a muscle to exert force.

• What is muscular endurance? The ability of a muscle to work without fatigue.

• What is flexibility? The range of motion around a joint.

• What is body composition? The body is made up of fat, muscle, bone and water. Body composition is the % of each your body is made up of. 

• Now the less technical version...........

The body is meant to move. Walking, running, bending, twisting, lifting, carrying, jumping, stretching etc etc.  If you don't use it you will lose it! You have heard this before no doubt. Many still prefer to take the easy option of doing nothing and moan about the results it produces! Tired all the time, stressed all the time, fat, feeling ill, feeling lethargic. Yet they become quiet skilled in the excuse department! I have no time, it's too expensive etc. I have heard them all and that is another blog topic right there.

Fitness starts in the head with a decision. A decision to do something about it for whatever reason. Lets say as an example 'To be able to kick a ball around with the kids for 10 mins a day'. Then make a plan!! Keep it simple and keep it real. This plan is not to include sitting infront of the TV watching the football to pick up kicking techniques! (unless you are joining in with the Mexican wave throughout). Simple thing is to get out and do it for a couple of minutes and increase it by a minute or 2 each day until your dazling Beckham skills last for 10 mins and it's the kids who give in first because they can't get the ball off you! Starting an exercise program to lose weight is a very real motivator, but picking somethig that is enjoyable for another reason is maybe better as shape and weight loss is a by product anyway of more exercise and healthier eating habits.

So, fitness is relative to the individual. Having enough puff in your lunges, strength and flexibility in your body to be able to do it, whatever 'it' is. As a result you feel better, cope better, sleep better, weight and shape begins to change, and you aim higher! Maybe setting yourself a target of the London Marathon in 2 years time. Life is better with a fit body to enjoy it with!