“To be in good shape” is the literal translation of the English verb “to fit”, from which the concept of “fitness” is derived. Combining many areas, fitness classes have two goals at once – changing the shape, body weight and general improvement of the body. To achieve them, you need to train regularly. However, fitness is not easy going to the gym.
It is something more – a way of life and philosophy, thanks to which a person improves his physical form and improves health. Fitness proponents relentlessly talk about the benefits of exercise, and their opponents consider intense physical activity unhealthy. The truth, as usual, lies in the middle.
Fitness Benefits
“Movement is life!” – said the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle and a clear proof of this is training in the gym. Regular training has an extremely beneficial effect on the physical shape of the body and is beneficial for the body. Among the clear benefits of fitness, the following effects can be distinguished.
- Losing extra pounds, normalizing weight and shaping the desired shape of the figure.
Increasing the body’s resistance to negative environmental factors and strengthening immunity. - Neutralization of the negative effects of stress, relieving nervous tension, improving sleep and psycho-emotional state.
- Acceleration of metabolic reactions and improvement of metabolism.
- Improvement of blood circulation, prevention of cardiovascular diseases, thrombosis and varicose veins of the lower extremities.
- Slowdown of natural aging processes.
- Improving the condition of the musculoskeletal system, prevention of osteochondrosis, arthritis and osteoporosis.
- Development of flexibility, endurance, strength, sense of balance, coordination of movements, speed of reaction and attention.
- Increasing self-esteem and self-confidence.
In practice, it has been proven that fitness classes are useful not only for the figure, but also help to give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse), adjust your diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Fitness for women allows you to recover faster after childbirth and avoid the development of postpartum depression. For the health of men, regular exercise is also beneficial – it is an excellent prevention of nonspecific prostatitis, congestion in the pelvic organs and erectile dysfunction.
Contraindications and harms of fitness
“Everything is good in moderation,” said the “father of medicine,” the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates, and he turned out to be right. Excessive physical activity in the gym can provoke the development of addiction.
After all, playing sports contributes to the active production of endorphins – chemical compounds whose action is similar to the effect of opiates on the human body. An excess of endorphins can bring the body into a state of mild euphoria.
After visiting the gym, a person experiences positive emotions, joy and happiness, and if he misses 1-2 workouts, he begins to “break”. The consequences of such dependence can be unpredictable for the psycho-emotional state.
And given the fact that fitness addicts often exhaust their body with dubious diets, this negatively affects not only the psyche, but also the physical health of a person.
We must not forget about the contraindications to fitness. These include the following diseases and conditions of the body.
- Organic lesions of the heart.
- Epilepsy.
- Oncological pathologies.
- Severe injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
- Varicose veins.
- Chronic diseases in the acute stage.
- Recent inflammations and operations.
Therefore, before starting classes, it is necessary to consult the attending physician. If they are carried out under the guidance of a fitness trainer, then you need to warn your mentor about the possible recommendations of the doctor. This will help you choose the right set of exercises and exercise regimen.
Tips for Effective Fitness
Fitness is a self-sufficient health-improving technique. It includes exercise, adherence to the chosen diet, sleep schedule and the rejection of bad habits. Compliance with these moments allows you to increase the effectiveness of classes and achieve your goal. During the training period, you must adhere to the following recommendations
- A set of exercises should correspond to the level of physical fitness, health status and age of the person.
- The diet (diet) is selected individually, depending on the existing problems and the goal.
The optimal training regimen is 2-4 times a week, 60-90 minutes each. - The volume of loads should not be exhausting for the body – a light stressful state will be quite enough.
- Monotonous training programs should be avoided – their intensity and level of load should vary, which will allow the body to improve and recover normally.
- It is better to set achievable tasks and goals for the classes.
After visiting the gym, the body needs to be restored, so you should not exhaust it with heavy physical labor around the house. It is recommended to give preference to mental activity, rest or light work.