I've recently read two articles recently that talked about the difference in being fit and being thin. I'm sorry I can't point you to the articles, but it was the kind of story that you don't take much notice of, until you see the same idea discussed twice in two different publications. When I start seeing a recurring theme like that, it makes me pay more attention.
Anyway, it said that lots of people who are really fit, are not necessarily thin, and might even be considered fat. They went on to say that the key to healthy-ness isn't losing weight, but getting fit. They did a study of older adults and compared those who were thin and not fit to those who were thin and fit, fat and fit and fat and not fit. Obviously, those in the thin and fit category were the healthiest, but the second healthiest group was those considered "fat and fit." (Gosh, this blog would be a lot better if I could source this for you!)
This is encouraging to me, because, though I have lost weight in the past, I seemed to get to a point where it was very difficult to lose more. At this point, I'm still considered overweight, with too high of a BMI. So although I worked very hard to get fit and lose weight, I was still vulnerable. I would tell myself that I'm wasn't finished, I still had weight to lose, etc, instead of appreciating how my fitness levels have increased. Heck that was even my standard answer when I got a compliment for losing weight, "I've still got a long way to go!"
This time around, while losing weight is still a priority, I think getting fit should be my focus. I think triathlons are a great way to do that, because between the three sports, I'm working my whole body. I also think strength training is key. I've completely slacked off in that regard since the Mud Run last October, and I can tell it in the way I look and feel.
So what about you? Would you rather be thin or fit, if you could choose just one? Thin sounds like it would be nice, but fit sounds like it could kick a little butt and that just seems more my style.
I love feeling fit... I miss that feeling.
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AH, I'm in the same boat. I FEEL healthy because I've been exercising about 6 days a week in some form (cardio, strength training, pilates, etc) and keeping my caloric limit under 1400 per day and I'm not really seeing a whole lot of results. Okay, yes, I've lost around 10lbs, but I would have really thought that by trying THIS hard, I would see more results. (I lost 10 lbs in the first 3 weeks and these last two weeks my total lost is 1 lb.)
ReplyDeleteAnywho, I noticed that I can run for longer without getting winded which is a big deal for me and because I'm not eating crapola, I FEEL healthier on the inside...even though I don't necessarily look it on the outside.
The end. ;)
I never really feel like I need to lose weight but I ALWAYS feel like I could be a bit more fit.
ReplyDeleteRight now, because of my bum back, I can't do a forward fold. How lame and unfit is that? (answer: EXTREMELY LAME AND UNFIT.)
I'm not even sure what a forward fold is. And if it is, like I think it is, just bending at the waist, I'm not sure that's a measurement of fitness anyway. It's just a measure of you've got a bad back.
ReplyDeleteWhat I neglected to say in this post is that I am certainly not fit right now either. I got winded going up the stairs at work today. That's a problem.
Being Fit is the key whether you consider yourself skinny or fat.. it just makes you feel good in every aspect of your life.
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