Why It Is Important to Stay In Shape

By guest blogger Mary Walton

We hear every day that it’s important to stay fit and healthy, but what does that really mean? Does ‘fit’ look the same for everyone? While everyone has different needs, it is true that it’s important to stay in shape. Here’s everything you need to know about keeping fit, and how it can help you and your health.

Why do you have to be physically fit?

There are all kinds of reasons why you want to keep fit and healthy. Your body is a machine and you need to take care of it so it can work to full capacity. Doing so will help you avoid illness and injury, improve your mood, increase your life span and more. If you pick activities that you enjoy doing, getting fit can be fun too.

What are the benefits of being fit and healthy?

There are several benefits to keeping fit. Here are just a few to get you started:

• Strong muscles and bones: Keeping fit can lead to better bone density and muscle strength. This is increasingly important as you get older, as it helps avoid common injuries.
• Weight control: Many people have concerns about their weight. Getting fit will help you lose that weight in a healthy way and keep it off.
• Gain energy: Exercise releases endorphins that can give you that extra kick when you need it the most.

How do I get motivated to lose weight?

Everyone is motivated by different things and that’s even true when you’re looking to lose weight. For example, some people keep a picture of themselves in a swimsuit on their fridge door to encourage themselves to snack less. If you’re motivated by seeing your progress measured, then a smart scale could be for you. This type of scale measures your weight and even breaks it down by fat, bone and muscle. It gives you an accurate measurement of your health so you can see what you need to do next.

How do I get motivated to go to the gym?

"Of course, going to the gym is one of the best ways of keeping fit, but it’s not always tempting," explains fitness writer Bella Nickson. "The best way to stay motivated to go to the gym is to start making it a habit. Maybe you want to go in the early hours or right after work. Whenever you go, start making that a routine."

In addition, it’s a good idea to keep your gym bag in your car so you’re always ready.

How do I maintain a healthy diet?

There’s lots of helpful information online about maintaining a healthy diet. Try using a personalised diet plan and find foods that keep you full without being unhealthy. You can even visit a dietician if you want some more help with this.

Is diet or fitness more important?

In truth, neither diet nor fitness is more important than the other. What you really want is to keep the two in equilibrium, as diet complements fitness and vice versa. If you maintain a healthy balance, then it’ll be much easier to get and stay fit.

How do I stay motivated?

"This is the big question," says sports writer Ben Frank. "You may be excited about your fitness regime at first, but you can soon get bored and irritated with it. The best way to stay motivated is find ways to see progress."

Getting fit can be a long process, but the health benefits are well worth it. Try putting together your fitness plan today.

Mary Walton is an editor at Academized, where she offers thesis help for PhD students. She is also a blogger at Simple Grad. Mary helps ESL students with academic writing at PaperFellows by providing coursework assistance. In her spare time, she loves surfing and expressing her creative side through painting.