Posted on :
11 August, 2010
By :kavita
Why a six pack does not always mean fit. ?
How do we gauge our level of fitness? By the weights we lift in the gym? The muscle definition we have? Or by the clothes that we fit into? Theres no standard reply. Hence, many people attach importance to false indicative signs to decide where they stand in the health ladder. Here are the most common myths that surround the definition of fit.
1. Six-pack abs epitomise the highest level of fitness.
Reality
Everybody has a six-pack... even you. However, the difference between you and Hrithik Roshan is that he has managed to lose the fat encompassing it. Trim abs dont indicate your level of fitness, but only the level of fat. And in most cases, its almost impractical to maintain them forever.
Celebrities have personal trainers monitoring every morsel of food they consume. Most of them lose their six-pack after the movies shoot is over. Considering the lifestyle most people have, those abs will remain a distant possibility unless you invest a lot of time and energy towards achieving them. Bottom line: They arent practical. Paying more attention to regular cardio exercises and weights will do you more good.
2. Fitness means maintaining the ideal weight.
Reality
Not always. Firstly, calculating ideal weight in terms of your height is wrong. Calculating the BMI index and the fat-to-muscle ratio is a better indicator of ones health. Secondly, many people are known to maintain a happy weight rather than ‘ideal weight.
Happy weight, as the term goes, is the weight at which the person is happy [or comfortable], and it may well be a little more than his/her ideal weight. In most cases, happy weight is the product of genetic make-up and body structure. Hence trying to fight it blindly, with the weight chart in mind, is a bad idea.
3. When doing weights, the heavier you lift, the fitter you are.
Reality
Weight-training follows a hierarchy system where you need to climb the ladder with months, even years of consistency. You start with the lighter weights and work your way up. Just because the person next to you is lifting a heavier weight, it doesnt mean that he/she is fitter. It only means that [s]he has built muscles over a period of time and now requires heavier weights to train.
4. Exercising is only for the obese: thin people neednt exercise.
Reality
Regular workout not only helps tone muscles but it also exercises the heart. Being thin is no excuse to skip exercise. A cardio workout aids the blood circulation system and helps bring down the resting heart rate. This reduces the stress on your heart and improves the overall fitness. Exercising releases feel-good hormones that help fight depression. You will feel more agile and cheerful. It also benefits the central nervous system improving concentration and overall alertness level.
5. The more fat you lose, the fitter you will be.
Reality
You may cringe at the very mention of the word fat, but the truth is that a certain amount of fat is very important for your body. Fat forms a protective layer over the organs and shields them from injury. Women need 24 to 33 per cent fat for survival. If they go on extreme diets and bring fat levels any lower, the brain automatically starts craving more fat as a survival technique, leading to extreme discomfort. And its not something you can overcome. And post that, losing weight becomes even more difficult.