What is the Best Possible Exercise For Staying Fit and Healthy?

If you have a hankering to get fit there are a hundred different types of exercise you can choose to do, all of which promote health and helps keep you fit.  From running to biking to weightlifting they each have specific health benefits.  In this article, I will compare some popular exercises to determine which one promotes overall health and gets you the fittest.

Fit Exercise #4: Running

 

Us humans are built to run.  We have an extraordinary capability to travel long distances on foot because we were built to relocate, hunt for game, and search for fresh food sources.  Without a doubt, running keeps you fit.  Thus, any exercise that uses our feet is designed to work exceptionally well.  Running burns calories, increases our metabolism, tones our legs, stomach, back and arms, and builds our endurance.

 

However, although we are built for traveling on foot, long-term runners tend to have many issues later in life.  These include tweaked ankles, shin splints, and injured knees.  The damage done to joints can be irritating if not painful.  However, knowing how to use proper form and running with the right type of shoe can dramatically decrease the potential for damage.  The fact that so many runners have knee issues is the reason it is not number one on the fit list.

Fit Exercise #3: Biking

Biking, like running, primarily uses our legs for endurance.  It is great for burning calories and toning up your body.  Also, like running, biking keeps you fit.  Unlike running, you rarely get as many joint issues because you are not constantly ‘landing’ with huge amounts of pressure on your knees or ankles.

 

Also, biking is more accessible.  People who are overweight or out of shape can bike much easier than run, and can typically last longer, burning more calories.  However, because you are in a sitting position, your body does not use as many muscles during this exercise.  Yes, you’ll have fit calves and the hamstrings of a kangaroo, but if biking is your only exercise, you may have the small chest and arms of a kangaroo to match!  Moving on…

Fit Exercise #2: Weightlifting

Getting fit by weightlifting.  This is a close contender to the number one exercise (although I am being a bit unfair by classifying all different aspects of weightlifting into one category).   With weightlifting, you are able to work out every specific muscle in your body as well as multiple muscles at the same time.  Being able to isolate parts of your body leads to amazing visual results.  You can also do all of them safely without injury using proper form.

 

The only drawback is that weightlifting is mostly anaerobic exercise which means you don’t typically train for endurance.  However, anaerobic does influence your metabolism by adding calorie burning muscle to your frame!

Fit Exercise #1: Swimming

Swimming is the best overall exercise, hands-down!  We are built for land, but the water provides us with so many benefits that promote a fit body.

 

First, there is no joint injuries because you are not ‘pounding’ against anything.  The buoyant water promotes a fit body without risking any injuries.  Second, the viscosity of water provides resistance which both makes us aerobically fit and anaerobically fit.  Kicking with your legs and pushing with your arms works your entire body, not isolating a single one.  You chest, back, legs, even neck becomes more fit when you train in the water.  Also, your endurance increases as well as your strength.  Just look at a swimmers body!  They are lean, yet strong; muscular, yet agile.

 

As a reminder, all of these exercises are better than doing nothing at all to promote your own fitness.  They will each help you stay fit.  The risk of injury is negligible compared to the daily benefits you will receive by starting any of these exercises.  You’ll also find that if you do any type of exercise, your whole body will improve and become more fit overall.

 

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