Health vs Fitness and Knowing Yourself

Connor Johnston
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

The book, Body by Science, by Doug McGuff, makes an important distinction between health and fitness.

Usually, these terms are used interchangeably. Most “Health and Fitness” advice uses these as nebulous terms to describe “things that make you sweaty and tired,” and “eating healthy.”

Strange as it may sound, fitness is a state that lacks a precise definition. Most of us use the term without really knowing what it is we’re talking about. The fitness industry offers no definitions, nor does the medical industry. (Chapter 1, page 1)

Good philosophy is necessary for success in every field. “Health and Fitness” is not immune from the gadfly of reason and evidence.

He offers definitions:

Health

A physiological state in which there is an absence of disease or pathology and that maintains the necessary biologic balance between the catabolic and anabolic states.

Fitness

The bodily state of being physiologically capable of handling challenges that exist above a resting threshold of activity. (Chapter 1, page 3)

He goes on to explain that, based on these definitions, having high levels of fitness in certain areas does not translate to health, and can actually damage health.

We could even take these definitions to mean that an alcoholic is supremely “fit” at ingesting 15 beers per night. But — of course — he is also supremely unhealthy.

High levels of fitness in jogging can lead to destruction of overall health via worn down joints

How can we apply this to self-knowledge?

There are many areas where psychological fitness leads to a state of psychological dysfunction.

Children of smothering mothers are highly psychologically fit at doing what they need to do to gain approval from the mother, or rebel to get space from her.

Barack Obama has high levels of psychological fitness at manipulating the political masses.

You can be highly psychologically fit at managing your friends’ psychological drama, despite the fact that it is draining you and making them dependent.

I could go on.

There are plenty of things we do that display a high level of psychological fitness, but harm us overall. We may be very adept at using marijuana for creativity. We may be very good at managing a toxic work environment.

It is important to zoom out, put our areas of psychological fitness in perspective, and ask, “is this contributing to my overall emotional health?”

“Is this helping me grow?”

In many cases, it probably is. In many cases it’s probably not.

The first step is to be honest with yourself.


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Connor Johnston

Written by

Western civilization, personal development for young men, empathy for children, philosophy for all.

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