FITNESS

Keeping fit is an important aspect of our life and should be a top priority for everyone. A fit person who has good health is definitely more efficient in carrying out his task either as a student in a school, a worker in an office or even a housewife at home.

There are different ways to keep fit. Observing a well-balanced diet daily is crucial. This would mean consuming meals that have all the essential amount of nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and mineral salts. Different kinds of food have different functions in building up and maintaining our bodies. Some may be needed to repair damaged tissues within while others are needed to strengthen our bones. For example, consuming lots of vegetables and food with fiber prevents constipation in a person as they provide roughage for our body system.

 

Another way to keep fit is by exercising regularly. It is encouraging to see people cycling, jogging and swimming at beaches. There are many individuals who are aware and convinced of the need for regular exercise to stay fit. Some even claim that they perform better in their work after exercise!

Learning how to relax our bodies is certainly an effective way to keep fit. In this fast-paced and much pressurized society, people are forever rushing – workers to their office, housewives to the markets and students to their respective colleges and schools. It is uncommon to see people taking a stroll after breakfast before going to work.

Nevertheless, in spite of our various job demands, it is crucial that we learn how to relax so as to “De-stress” ourselves. This will help us to be more composed instead of being tensed all the time. The ways of relaxation differ one from another. While some see window-shopping and visiting cinemas as a form of relaxation, others may vote for simply an afternoon of reading by the beach to serve the same purpose. Thus keeping fit is important and attainable. As someone rightly puts it, “Health is wealth” so such a pursuit is certainly worthwhile.

At no time in history has keeping fit ever been more important than now. In earlier days, men led difficult lives. Except for the very rich and idle, men generally worked with their hands. They had to move long distances and carry heavy loads. In many countries they had to battle the environment endlessly to eke out meager existences. Such is not the case today. In modern times, with the coming of affluence and machines to do all the hard work, men do not use their limbs as much as they used to and thus generally suffer from lack of exercise. Consequently we are less fit than our forefathers.

Though it is not always true that persons who are fit are always healthy as well, there is every reason to believe that fit people are usually healthy as well. Hence, being healthy appears to be the main reason to keep fit. Persons who keep fit can prevent serious diseases like heart disease and diabetes. In fact, it has been found that even people, who are suffering from these diseases, can get and stay fit. Being fit is known to keep the diseases at bay. A person with heart disease or diabetes who keeps fit is usually able to take part in various physical activities like healthy people. It is, however, expected that everyone will get a physician's clearance before embarking on any strenuous physical activity.

Besides being healthy, there is also the attractiveness of persons with fit bodies. Needless to say, a fit person is apt to have a more shapely and attractive body. Being thought to be attractive will also make .the person more confident in everything. Naturally this will lead him to be more successful in life. Hence we see that success in life is linked to keeping fit in more than one way.

With regard to keeping fit, 'there are many methods. They range from the inexpensive methods of jogging or walking to more expensive methods like workouts in gymnasiums, playing tennis or golf. There is bound to be a method which one can engage in within ones means. Grouped in another way, there are methods of keeping fit to suit all ages and interests. There are vigorous sports like football, hockey, badminton and basketball and there are the more leisurely ones like golf, tai chi and yoga. So many are the varieties of ways to keep fit, and most of them fun to do, that there is no excuse not to keep fit. The usual one that one has 'no time' is ridiculous because it makes little sense to work so hard to make a living that one has no time to really live.

In Singapore, there are keep fit facilities throughout the republic. These range from jogging tracks, clubs and sport facilities to fitness parks and swimming pools. No one has to travel far to indulge in ones favorite keep fit activity. Doing so will ensure healthier lives for all.