what’s your definition of fitness

Finding your own version of fitness…

You might be thinking, Teagan what the heck are you on about. Fitness means being able to run a marathon or squat 100kg or being able to do 50 push ups. Maybe fitness means a big booty and an 8 pack to you.

What ever it is, make sure it is your definition of fitness.

We often lend or borrow other peoples fitness goals as our definition of fitness. We set unrealistic and almost unachievable goals.

When we see a girl on the front of a magazine we instantly think, I want to be that fit.

Or when we are scrolling our socials we see someone who has a nice body and we tell ourselves, I’m going to get that fit.

There’s also a few of us that think ‘I’ll never be that fit’ – where the body shape seems too far out of reach and they must starve themselves and do cardio for 2 hours a day, so there is ‘no point’ even trying to be fit.

Here’s the thing, a body type doesn’t tell you a level of fitness. 

We need to set our own fitness goals. Based on fitness, not body composition (unless that’s your goal).

If you want an 8 pack, but tend to hold fat on your stomach, you’re going to have to be very mindful of what you eat and how much you train. Everything is calculated and measured. So maybe an achievable healthy goal is to have a flatter stomach, clean up your diet and still live without having to measure everything you put into your mouth.

It’s ok to set a fitness goal of 4 walks per week.
It’s ok to set a fitness goal of Pilates every morning and a 30 minute walk in the afternoon.
It’s ok to set a fitness goal of 4 weight sessions and 1 cardio session per week.
It’s ok to set a fitness goal of running 23kms each week, yoga once a week and Latin dance on the weekends.
It’s ok to set a fitness goal of 5 weight sessions, 2 yoga and 3 cardio sessions per week.
It’s ok to set a fitness goal of stretching every morning and doing yoga 3 times a week.

All these goals achieve a level of fitness. Depending on your goals will depend on what you fill your week with.

If you have noticed that you have been setting your fitness goals around what others do, have or seem to have – that is completely ok. We have all been there. I used to workout to try and achieve a body like Mirada Kerr and well that is just not realistic, at all.

Here are a few Q’s to ask yourself to set yourself some fitness goals.

1. Ask yourself what does fitness feel like to you?
   Do you feel energetic in the mornings? Do you feel lighter, more nimble? Do you feel less tired and lethargic? Do you feel amazing when you have stairs to climb? Do you wake up without any aches or pains? How does fitness feel?

2. Ask yourself what would you really like to achieve?
   Would you really like to wake up feeling fresh and energised? Would you like to do 10 push ups? Would you like to run 4kms without stopping? Would you like to bench press your own weight or squat more than you weigh? What would you be stoked to achieve? Get specific, the more details the better. Make it juicy, really feel into what you want to achieve. What would make yourself proud?

3. What are you willing to change to achieve your fitness goals?
   If you really want to run a marathon, you will not be able to achieve this by sitting on the couch. If you would like to do 10 consecutive push ups, they won’t just do them on their own. What changes are you ready to make to achieve your goals? Are you ready to start setting your alarm 20 minutes earlier so you have time for your morning yoga? Are you ready to go to your local gym and join up? Are you reaching out to a fitness professional for some guidance? What are you willing to change to achieve your goals?

Now set yourself some fitness goals based around this.
Be easy on yourself and be kind. Remembering that your goals are yours and it doesn’t matter what Jo Brown is doing next door. Focus on what makes you feel fit. It’s always good to set yourself a little challenge rather than just doing the bare minimum. Set yourself some goals and then increase the level a little bit each time it gets easy.

For an example, here is mine.

1. Fitness feels like energy to me. Waking up with energy and sustaining a high level all day. Fitness means being able to increase my weights at the gym, run 10kms easily, climb stairs without gasping for air & always being able to touch my toes and preform headstands. Fitness feels like lightness in my body when I am running.

2. I would really like to achieve 5 consecutive chin ups and 20 consecutive push ups. I would like to run in a fun run this year (when the events start back up again). I’d be stoked to have my very little 4 pack show again. I would like to progress my Ashtanga Yoga poses and improve each time.

3. I am willing to track my weights in the gym again to always progressively overload. I am willing to keep track of my fullness while I eat. I am willing to practice my Yoga on my own and continue to push myself.

What are you answers to the three Q’s? I’d love to hear all about your fitness goals and what you are setting out to achieve. Do you have a new goal you’d like to achieve or do you have a goal that has been there for a while but you are yet to achieve it?

If you need any help please reach out, I am most active on Instagram at @teags8

Love & Peace
Teags Lee x