What Does "In Shape" Mean?

Being "in shape" doesn't mean that you are stick thin and don't eat anything but lettuce and drink water all the time.  Being in shape means that you are physically fit, eating balanced meals and are active.  As you get older, it is harder to stay in shape, as our lives get busier and busier, and making time for regular exercise or healthy meals is harder to do-but in order to be "in shape" you must persevere!

So what does being in shape look like?  There are a few things that constitute being in shape.  For instance, if you are able to endure one hour of strenuous exercise, such as running, biking, etc., without too much trouble, then it is safe to say that you are probably in pretty good shape.

Your resting heart rate as well as your heart rate when you are active will also tell you if you're in shape.  There are different recommended rates for different ages.  Check with your gym or do a little bit of research to determine where your heart rate should be at, both resting and during exercise.

Another thing that will let you know if you are in shape is if you're not packing around a lot of extra weight.  Extra weight puts strain on your heart as well as your joints.  First you'll need to determine what your ideal weight is for your body type, height and age.  Then it is a good idea to determine what your body fat ratio is-again, that will largely depend on your body type and age of what the percentage of body fat you should have.

All in all, if you can go up a couple of flights of stairs, carrying a couple of bags of groceries and not feel like you are about to collapse, then you are probably in pretty good shape.  Eating healthy, shedding off some extra pounds and engaging in regular cardiovascular exercise is a great way to get in and stay in shape.