Being healthy is not just a matter of not being ill. It is about getting the most out of life. Fitness as a definition has undergone tremendous changes over the past two decades. Initially, it had a narrow outlook encompassing cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular strength and flexibility, but has broadened to include body composition, an active and fit body and a positive state of mind.

Knowing what you want to achieve is essential if you want to plan a program for a healthier, fitter lifestyle. For example, your goals could be:

Losing weight Getting fit Eating a balanced diet Improving your game of tennis/squash /badminton Climbing stairs without getting out of breath Being able to de-stress Increasing energy levels Cutting down on cigarettes and alcohol

Whatever your goals are, set yourself realistic targets and be determinedto achieve them.

Physical fitness is often defined as the condition resulting from a lifestyle that leads to the development of an optimal level of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and flexibility as well as the achievement and maintenance of ideal body weight.

Lifestyle factors, in fact, contribute significantly to more than half of the annual deaths in the United States. Common aberrations in a healthy lifestyle include smoking, lack of physical activity, stress and a diet rich in fats. All these lead to ailments such as cancer, obesity, coronary artery disease and hypertension, which may cause either morbidity in the individual or even mortality.

Physical activity improves the functioning of the heart, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides, helps control diabetes and provides an outlet for negative emotions such as anger, frustration and irritability, thus promoting restful sleep.

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