A recent back injury reminded me that there’s much more to fitness than workouts.
I was very limited in the workouts I could do so it made me reflect on the other components of fitness.
Here are 5 areas you’ll want to make sure are dialed in to truly be fit.
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Emotional fitness – Some call this EQ. It includes things like self confidence and self esteem. Many people are walking around with head trash telling themselves lies. It’s these lies that are robbing them of their potential. There are lots of things that can make you more emotionally fit. Modalites can range from speaking to a counselor to sharing feelings with a friend. Thankfully this concept is becoming a lot more main-stream.
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Nutrition – You’ve heard this plenty of times but it bears repeating. You can’t out exercise a bad diet. Many people make the mistake of thinking that because they’re working out they can eat whatever they’d like. A lot of research has been done that shows when people do only cardio for exercise, most of the time they eat the amount they burned plus more in extra calories. So the thought of not going anywhere on the treadmill carries even more meaning now.
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Recovery – Yes, the majority of people aren’t exercising enough but there are also many who overtrain. I’m one of them. We mistakenly believe that more is always better. We beat ourselves up for missing a workout. We train to the point of hurting ourselves. Slow and steady is the name of the game. Recovery workouts should be part of your overall program. These routines are more restorative by nature and include things like yoga, corrective exercise, and movement.
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Fun – We live in a super highly achievement oriented society. Everyone is chasing after dreams and goals. I know because I’m one of them. While working towards goals is an awesome thing, we can’t forget to find joy in the little things. Things like a child’s laugh, a nice breeze on your skin, or the sound of birds chirping on a spring morning. We can get so busy with life that we miss it. Schedule in some fun activities or some time that isn’t filled with stuff to do.
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Intellectual – If you’re not growing you’re dying. Be a life-long learner. For some that includes reading books. For others it’s taking courses. Learn and grow in the areas that interest you. It’s one of the greatest joys of life.
These are just some of the areas we can improve our “fitness” in. Just remember when you’re trying to get healthy it’s not just about the workouts. I know for me, the spiritual component is crucial. If I don’t spend quiet time with God each day, I’m very off.
Which of these areas can you improve other than your workouts? I’d love to hear.