What matters more? HEALTH OR FITNESS

by Maka Agu, personal trainer and assistant gym manager

I think it s fair to say we all want to be fit We also aspire to be in good health But what s the difference between health and fitness and just how important is it to be fit and healthy?

I spoke to a few friends, who I consider to be fit and healthy and here s what I found Fit or fitness seems slightly easier to define A lot of the lads used physical attributes and performance to describe fitness Others spoke of being able to perform everyday tasks without getting injured

Nearly everyone agreed that being overweight was a key indicator of lack of fitness Not many people mentioned posture, but for me as a personal trainer, it s a more definitive sign of health and fitness Also, it was generally agreed that fitness allows us a better quality of life by broadening the types of activities we are capable of, whether for leisure, emergencies or general day to day tasks

When I think of health, my friend Joe put it best He said health encompasses his physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health

He had a holistic approach to health

We spoke of his detailed morning routine, sleep patterns, illness and the ability to recover His health included most parts of his being and whilst fitness was on that list, it was almost an aid, a close ally He also spoke of resilience as well as the importance of attitude and perseverance, qualities you acquire through consistency and dedication

According to the Huffington Post, exercise is “physical activity done for its own sake” Training on the other hand is “physical activity performed for the purpose of satisfying a long-term performance goal, and is therefore about the process instead of the workouts themselves”

This is an important distinction Training will cultivate disciplines beyond the physical Athletes consider exercise a part of their everyday life so as to protect their discipline and to further their ability and performance Although I may not be an athlete, my intentions are the same One of the guys I spoke to said it was important to be ready for whatever life throws at you I felt that

Maka Agu is a personal trainer and assistant gym manager at Pure Gym With a background in martial arts and street work, he practices and specialises in calisthenics He has also ran two half marathons and competed in two charity white collar boxing bouts As a personal trainer, he specialises in lower back pain management and functional fitness To train with him, find him @maka mr heartcoreonInstagramoremailhimatmakaagupt@hotmailcom