Components of an Optimum Fitness Program

I used to think that treadmills and weights were enough for one to be physically fit. That was when I still frequented the gym, concentrating more on my cardio and strengthening exercises. It was not long ago when I realized that I was missing out on a few important things. The truth is, when we talk about optimum fitness, we should not only consider the following areas:

1. Cardiovascular endurance (like running, walking, dancing or any aerobic workout)
2. Muscular strength (like carrying a baby at home or power lifting at the gym)
3. Muscle endurance (like taking things in and out of a closet, or lifting a dumbbell 15-20 times)

but also:

4. Flexibility (the amount of movement which can be accomplished at a joint, such as the knee or shoulder)
5. Ideal body composition ("The ideal weight and fat-lean ratio varies considerably depending on gender and age. The minimum percent of body fat considered safe for good health is 5% for males and 12% for females. The average adult body fat is 15 to 18% for men and 22 to 25% for women." - http://sportsmedicine.about.com)

Hand in hand with good nutrition, combination workouts are the best to follow. It is not enough to do just one workout. I know of some people who seem to enjoy just cardio exercises because they get bored in weight lifting. Still, others neglect to exercise their heart in favor of muscle gaining.

According to Fitness Network Philippines, Filipino adults should
· work towards 20-30 minutes continuous aerobic physical activity for a minimum 3 days per week;
· perform activities using all major muscles of the body that maintain or increase muscular strength and endurance at least twice a week on non-consecutive days;
· perform gentle stretches to the point of tension, minimum 4 times a week.

So what exercises do you include in your fitness program?

I’ll be sharing mine in my next blog…