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#1
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words.
Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? |
#2
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
oregonchick wrote: I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words. Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? I agree with those medical ideal weight ranges which give men my height a weight anywhere from 126 to 154. Those are based on longevity statistics. I suppose if you have good genes, you can be overweight and eat all the wrong things, too, but it isn't my case, so I go with my gut feeling....no pun intended, which is to weigh at the lower part of the medical health range. If you type in ideal weight, there's a pretty good website that goes into the different "ideal" weight opinions: medical and personal where you can type in your height, gender, and weight and get 3 or 4 different opinions based on different criteria. I would put my money on the medical one though which is also the lowest weight, at least the lower range is the lowest. dkw |
#3
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
oregonchick wrote:
I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words. Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? I'm still about 4 stone overweight yet I reckon I'm probably one of the healthiest & fittest people I know (even if I am the fattest). A few weeks ago, I played badminton with my slightly thing brother - he wanted to rest after 20 minutes, I played solidly for 2 hours. None of my friends could run more than half a mile if they tried and I'd slaughter every one of them in a bike race - sprint or distance. |
#4
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
I guess she is "healthy" to a point, her heart and muscles are strong
enough for her to instruct the class but maybe she eats lots of junk food and fat? Of course, she could have some medical condition or take medication that makes her retain a lot of weight. I know my sister, depsite being a hockey player, takes prednisone and she always looks a bit chubby... On the rare occassion that they lower her dose she looks slim in no time. KR oregonchick wrote: I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words. Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? |
#5
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words.
To me, they are three different levels: Health is the first level and determined through medical testing. Fit is the next level where ones mind/body is capable of handling vigorous physical tasks/tests. Athletic is the third level where one is capable of actual physical competition. Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I see it as a progression. An example could be a couch potato who has just been told some things by his/her doctor that were less than positive but not immediately life threatening. The person decides to employ diet and exercise. A year or two later the person is given a clean bill of health based on a physical examination, blood tests, etc. That doesn't mean the person has a six-pack, can run a mile in under 6 minutes, bench press their bodyweight, do 10 chin-ups, etc. Passing fitness tests represents another level. And finally, passing fitness tests does not make one capable of successful athletic competition. Of course the water begins to get muddy between fit and athletic. It could be said that fit represents generalized capability whereas athletic represents a higher level--but one that is more specialized. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. Bringing appearance into the discussion represents an area of judgment that's easily skewed by subjectivity and generalization. The leaner person isn't always the healthier, the more fit, or the more athletic. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? That can't be told via appearance. However, using the system of levels above, her fitness to run the class and her performance with the weights and moves say that she's not only healthy but fit as well. Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. When in doubt, another good measure is waist to hip ratio. In that respect she may be okay. But in every other way, she seemed fit. She was obviously fit enough to run the class. She just didn't look like it at first. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? To me, that's determined by a thorough physical examination with all the requisite tests. But again, that doesn't mean one is physically/mentally fit or athletic. There is overlap to consider as well. For example, at some of the highest levels of athletics, health is sometimes at least temporarily sacrificed to some degree. I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? I agree. I think there is a lot of crossover between the components. Subjectivity often enters the picture as well. Appearance can lead to incorrect assumption. -- |
#6
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
oregonchick wrote:
I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. This shows why BMI does not always work. Because guidelines and principles and averages have exceptions. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? It still doesn't make guidelines and principles and averages have no value. If you're very healthy but way off on some guideline you'll know why. You'll know you're an exception to the rule. It's also true that having plentifull and strong muscles does not automatically mean having less fat. It *usually* means that, but not always. The most muscular I ever remember being I didn't drop all that much fat. I was doing weights without enough cardio and without paying any heed at all you my food. The leanest I ever remember being I didn't add all that much muscle. I was using hour-long walks that included some stairs as my main exercise so I didn't build any bulk. In both cases there was a lot of room for improvement but I could join a pick up soccer game so I was pretty healthy. The two aren't as closely linked as guidelines would have us think. |
#7
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
oregonchick wrote: I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. I would say that she is more fit than someone with a much lower body fat % is who is thin yet inactive and with little physical strength or stamina. I think that to a certain extent, our cultural notion of what constitutes a "good" body type is base on an arbitrary notion of aesthetics that has little to do with the realities of the physical world. -- Annie As of 08-25-06: 258/185.5/140 Standing at 5 foot 4. 72.5 pounds lost. 45.5 left to go. Started February/07/05 Come visit my weight-loss web site, Annie Takes Off. http://webpages.charter.net/lenny13/DietFrontPage.html |
#8
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define "healthy" or "fit" or "athletic"
"oregonchick" wrote in message . .. I have a distinct picture in my mind of someone who fits these words. Healthy/athletic bodyfat %, someone who can do alot of activities and keep up with the pack, someone who eats healthy, etc. I just recently started participating in my gym's cardio classes. Today I did a Body Pump and was surprised to see the woman running the class was more than a little chubby. But she was lifting heavier weights than anyone, and she could bust a move. So, is she "healthy"? Obviously her bodyfat % is probably much higher than the reccomended level. But in every other way, she seemed fit. So, it made me question, what is truly healthy? I'm guessing it's not a single component (weight, bodyfat, etc). What do you think? It's not a single component and it's not the same for everyone. That's what I think. I know that some of the fitness class instructors at our gym are not the stereotypical slim body type. The guy that runs the gym said he thinks they're less intimidating to newer members. Can some people be healthy at a higher BMI (overweight not obese)? Sure, just as some are unhealthy at a "normal" BMI. Same thing with fitness. As far as athletic goes it has multiple meanings. Athletic can refer to a type of appearance or it can refer to an actual athlete and the two can be mutually exclusive - like Sumo wrestlers -- the volleyballchick |
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