So You’re Fit But Are You Healthy?

You’ve decided to turn your life around and take a healthy lifestyle route. During your maiden gym foray, you’re instantly surrounded by the sight and sound of people focused on their workout – and it’s intimidating. Then you start thinking.

If the guy at the free weights area can pump that many curls, that lady on the stationary bike can cycle for what seemed an eternity, and the elderly couples seem to be enjoying their couple workouts, you can do this too! Suddenly, you’re inspired, and you’re adamant about being fit because being fit means being healthy.

But is it though?

#FakeNews Alert

 Just because someone can do a million squats with a weighted vest (for dramatisation purpose only so don’t try it at home or anywhere!), we are instantly blown away into thinking that they must be healthy to be that fit. Unfortunately, it is a false assumption.

We often confuse being fit with being healthy. Granted, one has to practise a certain degree of a healthy lifestyle to get fit and stay fit. We tend to forget that while our body is working hard, our heart is working even harder. But if it’s being worked too hard, the result can be fatal.

Real News Grim Reminder

In March 2012, a televised English FA Cup match between Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur turned into a life-changing event for one particular player.

Fabrice Muamba of Bolton Wanderers, then only 23, suffered a cardiac arrest during the game. Thankfully he survived, and although he had to retire shortly upon medical advice, he was one of the lucky ones. There have been other athletes who despite being peak physical condition, succumbed (gravely) to cardiac arrest.

The real grim bit is that such incidents are not uncommon even among elite athletes. A search on the Internet will open up this Pandora’s box but remember that they should be taken as reminders and there is something that you can do about your own wellbeing.

Take This To Heart

To say the heart is a vital organ is an understatement. You’d be surprised at how a fist-size instrument can do so much work non-stop! You are thankful, but being grateful is not enough.

WorkWell Chronic Disease Management Program is an ideal and essential health, and wellbeing initiative. It consists of a primary health screening that evaluates:

• BMI
• Blood Pressure
• Waist circumference
• Lipid profile
• Diabetic profile

This can help detect and prevent a myriad of diseases that may even be detrimental to your life. It’s a fallacy to assume that you only go to the doctor’s when you are unwell as it’s equally important to do so as a means of staying well.

Being healthy includes eating right and signing up for WorkWell’s Office Talk on Total Health is something that you should consider as well. At the end of the day, the number of reps you can do in the gym or miles you can run outside of it is not a true reflection of your health status. You will not only learn about the dangers and risks of being a fitness buff, but we’ll share with you what the key missing puzzle piece is when we talk about Total Health.

You may be fit but ARE YOU HEALTHY?