Marlborough Magazine June 2018 | Page 10

WHAT DOES BEING F

There are five components of physical fitness :

1 . Muscular Strength - the power your muscles have .
2 . Muscular Endurance - how long your muscle power can last .
3 . Cardiovascular Endurance - the length of time your the heart and lungs can fuel your body with the oxygen needed by your muscles .
4 . Flexibility - the ability of your body to move through its entire range of motion without pain or stiffness .
5 . Body Fat Composition - the proportion of fat and fat-free mass in your body .
Any program that neglects one or more of these types of fitness is NOT going to benefit your body in the long run . An effective fitness program will attempt to improve all five components of fitness . If you are unsure about what type of fitness programs you should be on to suit your fitness personality , speak to a trained professional for advice .

What ’ s your FITNESS

1 . My friends and family would best describe me as :
A . Detail-oriented , methodical and somewhat reserved .
B . Brutally honest , competitive and extremely focused .
C . Good-natured , social and easy to get along with .
D . Ambitious , energetic and relatively impulsive .
2 . I would describe my approach to exercise as :
A . A solo endeavour - I tend to go it alone and stick to a set workout routine that I ’ m familiar with .
B . Goal-oriented - I ’ m committed to setting and reaching my goals , so I follow a specific , detailed workout plan to get the results I want .
IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY A ’ S …
The Decision Maker As a creature of habit you tend to stick with the activities you ’ re familiar and comfortable with , and you tend to prefer to workout on your own as opposed to with a group . While your consistent commitment to exercise is commendable , you ’ re a bit reserved in your approach , as you like to be certain you have all the facts first before you make decisions as to which exercises to add to your routine . Engaging in workouts that are safe , effective and supported by research is a must for you . Let science expand your horizons - Look to the latest research to find out what ’ s effective , as studies have shown that modalities such as yoga , Pilates and Zumba
C . A social affair - I prefer to ask around and find out what other people do to stay fit and then join them in whatever workouts they suggest .
D . Spur of the moment - I opt not to have a set plan because I get bored easily , so I just constantly try out new workouts and exercises that sound interesting .
3 . When a new fitness class or trend comes out , I find myself :
A . A bit skeptical as to whether the activity will actually provide any real benefits .
B . Willing to consider trying it if it is convenient for me and will help me to reach my personal health and fitness goals .
C . Curious to know what other people ’ s experiences have been like , and if they say it ’ s fun and easy to follow , I ’ ll try it out .
are all effective when it comes to improving health and fitness ( and they ’ re fun too ).
IF YOU ANSWERED MOSTLY B ’ S …
The Goal Setter A competitor by nature , both against yourself and others , you ’ re committed to getting the results that you want and you ’ re not afraid to put in the hard work to make it happen . With clearly defined objectives for exercise , you ’ re adamant about sticking with a specific training program that will be most effective in enabling you to reach your personal health and fitness goals . You ’ re ready to take action when it comes to living your fittest life and you ’ ve got your eyes on the prize . Be a role model - While you often prefer