Ultimate Fitness

Ultimate Fitness is by definition a provocative phrase. It conjures up all manner of extreme images of people participating in extreme sports scenarios or training to the nth degree. Rather it means quite literally, how fit does one ultimately have to be to do what one wishes to do? It requires some personal evaluation. If you want to be fit enough to sit on the couch and watch endless movies or sitcoms, what do you need to do? Well, probably nothing in that case. However, if you want to know what you must do to pursue a specific physical activity at a certain level, then that has an entirely different "To Do" list.

Even with the couch scene you will have to decide how alert you want to be after hours on-screen. Is weight control a consideration? If you want to be fit enough to shovel snow for an hour at the end of a long work day without being "done" for the rest of the day, you will have to be more ambitious physically. If you want to move more you have to move more. There are lots of people who are crushed mentally just considering such a life event at the end of the work day who could be described as basically unfit for the life they lead. What your life demands of you is the life you lead.

Anything beyond sitting on the couch will demand a certain activity level to achieve without strain on a daily basis. Exercise is indispensible. Accept it. You are going to have to move regularly if you want to move occasionally without doing yourself in. You can run but you can't hide from that one (no pun intended). What do you do every day or, at least, several times a week to contribute to the physical reserves required to meet the daily challenges in your life? If the answer is nothing, then you are courting long-term disaster. You won't be young forever and when you're not your lack of activity will catch you up.

If the spring in your step has sprung or if you have day left at the end of your personal resources it is time to rethink and revamp your personal care program. Today's lifestyle demands some extra. If you are into heavy labour as an occupation you may be alright, but otherwise you are kidding yourself if you think you can avoid the "exercise" scene. Find what works for you, be it walking or mountain climbing, and get moving.