Fabulously Fit ~ What Does "Fitness" Mean Anyway?

Note: This blog was intended to be published on December 21st, but unfortunately was accidentally saved as a draft instead.

Fitness is not about having a small waist, being thin, or having rippling muscles. It is not even about being able to climb a mountain or run a marathon. Fitness is a combination of physical and mental qualities that allow us to operate at our full potential. It includes strength, endurance, and flexibility (both in body and mind).

Exercise is the key to improving in all of these areas, both mentally and physically, since working out produces endorphins. Endorphins are hormones that activate our body's opiate receptors, causing us not to feel pain, emotionally or physically. Exercise is a drug that is free and legal, so there's no reason not to get hooked! (Of course, true addiction to exercise is a serious and dangerous condition, but let's face it ~ none of us are at risk!).

Over the next year, we're going to all of the qualities needed to count ourselves among the fit. We'll take some baseline measurements (don't worry ~ they're confidential and I won't discuss them with anyone, not even you!), and get started. I guarantee that we'll find that as our bodies become stronger, more flexible, and have better endurance, so will our minds and souls. Let's train!

Merry Christmas!

Welcome to the gift that keeps giving!

For the next year, I will publish at least one blog per week about fitness. In addition, those of you to whom I gave this to for Christmas will also receive monthly packets detailing new workout routines, advice, and "Monthly Challenge" material, as needed. There may even be a surprise or two along the way...

I intend for this to be a journey we can share together, without regard to location or time constraints. Although we may not be physically together, we can be united by our physical endeavors!

If you're interested, I ask that you send back each self-addressed, stamped envelope (or email, if I can figure out how to make forms by PDF) and answer the questions and queries presented honestly, openly, and promptly (since some questions may alter or affect the next month's information). These questions will be sent to you each and every month.

Remember, the goal of this blog and subsequent exercise program is to help each of us push ourselves, both physically and mentally, and to help each of us become a happier, healthier person. No one will do everything I suggest, and that's okay. Some months may be better than others, too. The point is to get back up and go! We all can be fit if we put a bit of thought and work into it, and it's my goal to remind you of that, each and every week.

Plus, if you're reading, I have to workout and blog, so it's kind of selfish on my part - I DO want to get back into shape, of course!