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Fitness
Am I fit? As we age, this is a question you may well ask yourself frequently. And more often than not, the answer is no! Well don't be too hard on yourself.
Fitness is a measure of your relative physical capacity. It is not simply something that you are or are not. The relative part relates to the demands that are placed on you during the course of your normal day.
Are you fit for work, for sport, for recreation, for leisure? The answer depends on what the activity is that you are planning to do.
The fact of the matter is that many of us have relatively few physical demands placed on us anymore. The hunter/gatherer approach to survival has been replaced by a drive to the supermarket and dinner in front of the TV.
The hard physical labour common in the early 20th century has, for many, been automated, mechanised, computerised or robotised. Many of us find ourselves sitting in front of computers for a large part of our working life.
Although we may not need the capacity we still need the activity. So don't focus on your fitness. Instead focus on your behaviour. A change in behaviour, maintained for a sufficient period of time will enhance fitness. More importantly in today's world, it will enhance your health and wellbeing.
Article by Professor Kerry Mummery
Central Queensland University
